Marine soldier faces dismissal over New Year’s eve indiscriminate firing

By Ronron
January 2, 2008

The Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) chief said Wednesday that the Marine soldier caught firing indiscriminately during the New Year’s eve celebration in Pasay City will be slapped with charges under military law that could cause his discharge from the service.

Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ben Dolorfino said Private First Class Angelito Tabula, 26, may be charged with violation of the Article of War 97 (Conduct Prejudicial to Good Order and Military Discipline) that carries a penalty of dismissal from the services.

“We are conducting an investigation as per guidance of the higher headquarters,” Dolorfino told Camp Aguinaldo reporters in a phone interview yesterday.

He said the investigation against Tabula, who fired a caliber 45 on New Year’s eve on Lopez Street, Barangay Velez, Pasay City leaving two persons injured, will proceed within the military organization even as he allegedly settled already the case with the families of his victims.

Hurt in the shooting incident were James Manarang, 32, and Emmelene Dayto, 16.

“PFC Tabula was allegedly under the influence of liquor at that time,” said Lt. Col. Jonas Lumawag, PMC spokesman, when asked what triggered the suspect to fire his gun.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. had earlier warned that members of the uniformed service will face dismissal if they use their firearms during the revelry on Christmas and New Year’s eve.

Lumawag said it is assumed that the caliber 45 used by Tabula in the incident is a personal firearm. But he said this does not exempt the said soldier from the policy.

Tabula was immediately apprehended by elements of the Pasay City Police Station and SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) unit after the incident. Recovered from him was the caliber 45 he used.

Later on New Year’s Day, the Pasay City Police filed before the prosecutor’s office charges of alarm and scandal, indiscriminate firing, physical injuries, and physical injuries in relation to Republic Act 7610 (Child Abuse Law) against Tabula despite his reported settlement with his victims’ families.

Lumawag said Tabula belongs to the Marine Battalion Landing Team 10, which is currently on retraining in Metro Manila.

Cases of indiscriminate firing during the end of 2007 until early January 1, 2008 had left a total of 10 persons injured (five in Northern Mindanao, four in Metro Manila, and one in the Ilocos Region), the PNP reported.

It was relatively fewer compared to the number of victims (one killed and 39 wounded) in the previous year, and far better than in 2005 wherein 31 people were killed after being hit with stray bullets.

“Overall, the celebration of the Christmas and New Year season all over the country was generally peaceful, with a marked improvement in the number of accidents,” PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome had said, citing also fewer firecracker-related incidents this year compared to the previous years./DMS