Soldier who killed No. 2 ASG man shot dead in military exercise

By Ronron
July 17, 2007

An Army trooper who shot dead the top two leader of the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in January of this year was killed in a military exercise early this month in a military camp in Nueva Ecija.

Staff Sergeant Raul Suacillo, 34, was participating in a practical exercise on ambush and counter-ambush last July 3 at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province when he was hit by a live bullet, causing his death, said Brig. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, commander of the Army Special Forces.

Suacillo, who now belongs to the 5th Special forces Company, shot dead Jainal Antel Sali, alias Abu Solaiman, in an encounter last January 16 at Mt. Dajo, Talipao, Sulu. Solaiman carried then a $5 million bounty on his head from the US government due to his notoriety.

The neutralization of Soliaman came less than a month after the Philippine military unearthed the remains of ASG top leader, Khadaffy Janjalani, who was killed in an encounter in September last year.

In a news conference in January, Suacillo recounted that he chanced on Solaiman while the latter was defecating.

Ortiz said Suacillo was acting as training umpire and aggressor during the exercise last July 3 when he was fatally hit by a bullet of an M16 rifle.

The bullet went through his right arm, then penetrated his heart before it got stuck and embedded inside his upper body, said Ortiz.

Ortiz said Suacillo was rushed to the Fort Magsaysay Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Initial investigation revealed that Corporal Edgar Caban immediately admitted to have used a live bullet accidentally after getting “puzzled” during the activity, Ortiz said. The participants should have used blank ammunitions in the exercise.

“After initial investigation, Cpl. Caban was turned over and detained at the Military Police stockade at Fort Magsaysay. The Army headquarters has sent the Army Inspector General to formally conduct a thorough investigation and we are still awaiting the findings,” Ortiz said.

Ortiz said Suacillo was buried last Saturday at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Fort Bonifacio. The hero’s burial was attended by officers and men of the Special Forces Regiment, the Special Operations Command, the Rangers, Light Reaction Brigade, as well as his family and relatives from Zamboanga and Pangasinan, Ortiz said.

For his participation in the neutralization of Solaiman, Suacillo was accorded with Distinguished Conduct Star Medal by the Philippine Army leadership during the 110th anniversary of the Philippine Army last March.

And then last June 29, he was also given the Special Forces Award of Distinction. It was the 45th anniversary then of the Special Forces, and the award was given by the event’s guest of honor, former President Fidel Ramos, the first commander and recognized father of the unit.

Ortiz said a road where Suacillo was accidentally shot will be named after him in his honor. It is a 1.5 kilometer road leading to the Special Forces School./DMS