From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 30, 2020): (Update) Shooter was mentally disturbed: PMA, BCPO (By Dionisio Dennis, Jr. and Liza Agoot)
The Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) on Wednesday said the soldier who shot two fellow soldiers on Tuesday afternoon was mentally disturbed.
In a statement, Major Cherryl Tindog, chief of PMA’s public affairs office and the academy’s spokesperson, said that the initial investigation conducted by PMA revealed that the shooting incident "is an issue of (a) mental health problem on the side of the shooter that led to this tragedy”.
“Our soldiers, like any other person, may have been silently struggling with such ordeal. Hence, the Academy is now more than ever, committed to attend to the mental health not only of our cadets but more so of every military personnel," she added.
On Tuesday afternoon, a soldier suddenly shot two fellow soldiers at the Enlisted Personnel Barracks inside PMA.
Air Force Staff Sergeant Jeofrey Turqueza died as a result of a gunshot wound from an M16 rifle that suspect Airman 2nd Class Christopher Lim used. Army SSgt. Vivencio Raton was able to scuffle with the suspect and shot him. Raton and Lim were rushed to the PMA Station Hospital and later transferred to Baguio General Hospital.
BCPO director, Col. Allen Rae Co, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), said “initially, it is coming out that the shooting resulted from a misunderstanding where the suspect heard that he is the topic of discussion of people around him".
“Lumalabas na nakakarating sa kanya na may tsismis na kumakalat tungkol sa kanya at ang naiisip daw niya, tuwing may nag-uusap sa paligid ay siya ang pinag uusapan (The suspect said there are gossips circulating about him and thinks he is the topic whenever there are people talking around),” Co said.
Co said that Lim’s buddy noticed the suspect’s disturbed state, which made him decide to take into custody the firearm of the suspect. The suspect, however, ransacked a locker and took a firearm, which he used in shooting the two victims.
The police officer said there is nothing in the investigation that showed a deeper explanation of the incident.
He said they will only be able to see the whole picture when a psychiatrist or psychologist enters the picture.
As of January, the city has recorded a total of 14 suicide and mental health-related crimes.
“The statistics did not increase but is still alarming. Just like what I said, this could be a mental health-related issue or it could have been caused by prolonged isolation and quarantine," Co said.
He said that PMA has maintained a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)-free status until now, which probably is the reason even personnel are unable to go out.
“Probably, it's a direct result of the quarantine that they have established there. Baka hindi rin nakakalabas itong mga tao na ito (It could be that these people are also unable to go out), and it could have led, somewhat or contributed sa naging problema (to the problem), hindi pa (it's not yet) conclusive, but maybe it contributed to the mental health problem of the people,” Co said.
Meanwhile, Tindog said they are now strengthening the mental state of people inside the academy.
“In coordination with other stakeholders, the Academy is and will continue to be providing psycho-social intervention to identify and help its personnel who may have mental health problems, similar to what has been done for our cadets,” she said.
“This is the PMA's commitment to its personnel in order for them to remain psychologically fit for any mission given them. In as much as this incident is an isolated case, the PMA community is doing its very best to look into every single detail leading to the incident and to provide the necessary solutions to ensure that no similar case will happen in the future," she added.
Assistance for three soldiers
Tindog said the PMA is saddened with the untimely demise of one of its military personnel and with the current condition of the two others.
“The Academy extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Air Force SSgt. Jeofrey Turqueza and assures them that all necessary support will be accorded to them," she said.
She said support will also be extended to the two personnel who are at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).
“The Academy will likewise extend all the necessary support to them to ensure that they will both surpass this difficult time,” Tindog said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117126
In a statement, Major Cherryl Tindog, chief of PMA’s public affairs office and the academy’s spokesperson, said that the initial investigation conducted by PMA revealed that the shooting incident "is an issue of (a) mental health problem on the side of the shooter that led to this tragedy”.
“Our soldiers, like any other person, may have been silently struggling with such ordeal. Hence, the Academy is now more than ever, committed to attend to the mental health not only of our cadets but more so of every military personnel," she added.
On Tuesday afternoon, a soldier suddenly shot two fellow soldiers at the Enlisted Personnel Barracks inside PMA.
Air Force Staff Sergeant Jeofrey Turqueza died as a result of a gunshot wound from an M16 rifle that suspect Airman 2nd Class Christopher Lim used. Army SSgt. Vivencio Raton was able to scuffle with the suspect and shot him. Raton and Lim were rushed to the PMA Station Hospital and later transferred to Baguio General Hospital.
BCPO director, Col. Allen Rae Co, in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA), said “initially, it is coming out that the shooting resulted from a misunderstanding where the suspect heard that he is the topic of discussion of people around him".
“Lumalabas na nakakarating sa kanya na may tsismis na kumakalat tungkol sa kanya at ang naiisip daw niya, tuwing may nag-uusap sa paligid ay siya ang pinag uusapan (The suspect said there are gossips circulating about him and thinks he is the topic whenever there are people talking around),” Co said.
Co said that Lim’s buddy noticed the suspect’s disturbed state, which made him decide to take into custody the firearm of the suspect. The suspect, however, ransacked a locker and took a firearm, which he used in shooting the two victims.
The police officer said there is nothing in the investigation that showed a deeper explanation of the incident.
He said they will only be able to see the whole picture when a psychiatrist or psychologist enters the picture.
As of January, the city has recorded a total of 14 suicide and mental health-related crimes.
“The statistics did not increase but is still alarming. Just like what I said, this could be a mental health-related issue or it could have been caused by prolonged isolation and quarantine," Co said.
He said that PMA has maintained a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)-free status until now, which probably is the reason even personnel are unable to go out.
“Probably, it's a direct result of the quarantine that they have established there. Baka hindi rin nakakalabas itong mga tao na ito (It could be that these people are also unable to go out), and it could have led, somewhat or contributed sa naging problema (to the problem), hindi pa (it's not yet) conclusive, but maybe it contributed to the mental health problem of the people,” Co said.
Meanwhile, Tindog said they are now strengthening the mental state of people inside the academy.
“In coordination with other stakeholders, the Academy is and will continue to be providing psycho-social intervention to identify and help its personnel who may have mental health problems, similar to what has been done for our cadets,” she said.
“This is the PMA's commitment to its personnel in order for them to remain psychologically fit for any mission given them. In as much as this incident is an isolated case, the PMA community is doing its very best to look into every single detail leading to the incident and to provide the necessary solutions to ensure that no similar case will happen in the future," she added.
Assistance for three soldiers
Tindog said the PMA is saddened with the untimely demise of one of its military personnel and with the current condition of the two others.
“The Academy extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Air Force SSgt. Jeofrey Turqueza and assures them that all necessary support will be accorded to them," she said.
She said support will also be extended to the two personnel who are at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC).
“The Academy will likewise extend all the necessary support to them to ensure that they will both surpass this difficult time,” Tindog said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1117126
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