An army integree, with 12 years in service, was identified
by the Philippine Army (PA) as the trooper who went amuck and killed five
others before being neutralized in Sumisip town, Basilan Thursday morning.
PA spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao identified the amuck as
Cpl. Tahiruddinn A. Taha, 37, a mortar gunner of Bravo Company, 64th Infantry
Battalion, and of Indanan, Sulu.
"We have no derogatory records on Taha," he added.
Taha was one of the many hundreds of Moro National
Liberation Front fighters integrated in the military during the late 90s.
The bloody incident took place 8:45 a.m. at the
multi-purpose hall located at headquarters of Bravo Company at Upper Cabengbeng , Sumisip town.
At the multi-purpose hall, around 20 to 30 persons were
having a bible study when Taha made his way at the back and treacherously fired
on the group with his M-16 automatic rifle.
Initially, the suspect approached the duty guard and
volunteered to take his place.
However, the guard told Taha to comeback at around 12 noon
as it was scheduled duty time.
The suspect then responded "Sige, maglalaba na lang ako
(Okay, I'll just wash my clothes."
Hao identified the five soldiers killed by the amuck as 2nd
Lt. Alvin C. Ebina, Cpl. Robert F. Jondayran, Pfc. Jessrell V. Calud, 1st Lt.
Camlon Martin M. Puao and Staff Sgt. Jonathan C. Galicto.
Wounded were 1st Lt. Pada K. Guingar, Technical Sgt. Jerry
C. Cardoza, Sgt. Anthony A. Bentoy, Pfc. Elber C. Noble, Pfc. Ruel M.
Macalapay, Pfc. Nelson C. Calambro, Pfc. Junnel C. Cajote, Pfc. Remie L.
Espanola, Jr. and Pastor Rolly Matson.
The Army spokesperson added that there were no indications
that the suspect will go amuck as the latter had just returned from a two-week
vacation to settle some "family problems."
However, fellow soldiers said Taha had become withdrawn
lately.
He also said that all dead and wounded personnel were
immediately airlifted to 104th Infantry Brigade headquarters in Tabiawan,
Isabela for transfer to the Western Mindanao Command headquarters in Lower
Calarian, Zamboanga
City
Hao said that a medical and psychological team will be
deployed immediately to the affected military facility to determine the exact
cause of this incident.
The Army spokesperson said that they also sought the help of
the police in investigating the incident.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=818311
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