Air Force officer shots dead a subordinate officer in Basilan

By Ronron
December 18, 2007

A ranking officer of a Philippine Air Force (PAF) unit that is based in Basilan province shot dead his drunk subordinate officer last Saturday night, military officials said Tuesday.

PAF commander Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino identified the killer as Lt. Col. Arturo Apud, acting chief of the PAF 355th Aviation Wing, and the victim as Maj. Jesus Fernandez, the unit’s Executive Officer.

Tolentino told Defense reporters in a phone interview that prior to the shooting at around 7pm of December 15 inside the unit’s camp in Sumisip town, Apud saw Fernandez violating a policy of no-drinking-inside-camp.

This prompted Apud to confront Fernandez, who was already drunk, said Tolentino.

The incident later led to Apud firing at Fernandez using an M16 rifle.

Fernandez succumbed to two gunshot wounds, Tolentino said.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command (WESMINCOM) spokesman Maj. Eugene Batara said in a separate phone interview thta initial reports reveal that it was an accidental firing.

An investigation is now being conducted by the Inspector General of the WESMINCOM to determine the exact circumstances that led to the shooting incident, said Batara.

Tolentino said he would also assign a pre-trial investigation officer (PTIO) from the PAF to determine the possible charges against Apud.

“The investigation will determine his accountability,” Tolentino said.

Apud immediately gave himself up to higher authorities and is now under the custody of PAF headquarters in Pasay City, said AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, Jr.

Sought for his comment on the incident, Esperon told reporters yesterday at the AFP Hospital in Quezon City: “I’m sure it was a personal altercation or grudge between the two. We do not want that to happen (to) people who bear their firearms in behalf of the government. It’s sad that it (firearm) is used against their own comrades.”

Esperon said a fatal shooting between officers “is rare” in the service.

He said Apud “will be given due course under the rule of law.”

The 355th Aviation Wing was among the units sent in September by the Defense and military leadership to Basilan to carry out humanitarian projects, particularly, help finish the circumferential road in the province, as part of the government’s efforts in combating terrorism./DMS