Officer, soldier killed in duel, three others soldiers wounded

By Ronron
July 7, 2007

An Army officer and one of his subordinate soldiers died after both exchanged fires on Friday night inside their camp in Negros Occcidental province in western Visayas.

Lt. Col. David Tan, spokesman of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, said the duel between a certain 2nd Lt. Lacson and Private First Class Erasmo, both of the 32nd Reconnaissance Company, also left three soldiers wounded after they were hit by gunfires coming from the feuding soldiers.

Tan said the incident happened at around 8pm inside the 32nd RC detachment in Barangay Bato, Sagay City as Lacson was conducting his nightly check on his men. Lacson is the executive officer or deputy commander of the 32nd RC, Tan said.

“It (shooting) happened during a formation. 2Lt. Lacson was on a routine check of his men and their firearms,” Tan said in a phone interview.

But Tan could not immediately say as to what sparked the incident or if any of Lacson and Erasmo are drunk, saying it is still being investigated by local military officials, in coordination with the Philippine National Police.

“The initial report is 2Lt. Lacson and PFC Erasmo first had a heated exchange of words, and then the firing started. Both were armed with M16 rifles. As to who opened fire first, we still cannot say,” Tan said in a phone interview yesterday.

“We are still investigating the motive in coordination with the Philippine National Police,” he added.

Tan said Lacson and Erasmo died while being brought to the hospital, while three foot soldiers suffered slight injuries due to the gunfires./DMS