ILOILO – What could have triggered a Philippine Army soldier to fire at his paramilitary friends in Barangay Panalian, Maasin, Iloilo yesterday?
Staff Sergeant Alvin Estorco, 46, was detained at the Maasin police station after shooting five members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu) at around 4:15 a.m.
The 28-year-old Albert Magarse, a resident of Barangay Panalian, died at the Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in nearby Cabatuan town.
Estorco, assigned at the detachment of the 12th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Panalian, wounded four others. They were Magarse’s brother Aljhon, 24; cousin Michael Magarse, 24; uncle Juan Magarse, 64; and Jorge Calumpayan. All were confined at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Prior to the shooting, Estorco and his Cafgu friends had a drinking binge in Barangay Ubian, Maasin, according to Senior Inspector Felix Alianza, municipal police chief.
They were part of the security contingent that secured Barangay Ubian which was celebrating its fiesta.
From what the police so far gathered, Estorco sprayed the victims with bullets as they were walking back to the Army detachment in Barangay Panalian.
Estorco used his R4 assault rifle.
“The suspect told us he thought his friends were enemies plotting to attack him,” said Alianza.
There was no heated argument that led to the shooting, added the police chief.
“Sobrang lasing or may problema sa kaisipan, he would still be held liable for what happened,” said the 301st Infantry Brigade commander, Brigadier General Pio Diñoso.
He added: “We are not tolerating that kind of attitude in the Army.”
Diñoso also revealed that a soldier is required to undergo neuropsychiatric test every three years.
It was unclear as of this writing when was the last time Estorco had a neuropsychiatric test./PN
