Soldier in hospital, 2 others detained after indiscriminate firing in Zambo bar

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Zamboanga del Sur—A soldier is now in hospital and two others are detained by police after one of them, in a drunken stupor, fired his gun indiscriminately inside a bar at the seaside park Paseo del Mar in this city on Friday, Sept. 27.

Maj. Edwin Duco, Zamboanga City police spokesperson, said the three soldiers—Sgt. Brylle Rodriguez Reyes, 30; Sgt. Leonel Espartero; 29 and Capt. Adrian Hesta Fernando, 29—were already drunk around 3:30 a.m. when Espartero pulled out his gun and started firing.

The sound of gunshots sent people scampering for safety.

After the firing, the three soldiers boarded a motorcycle and sped but crashed some 500 meters from Paseo del Mar where police chanced upon them.

As a result of the crash, Espartero suffered multiple injuries and had to be rushed to the Zamboanga City Medical Center.

Reyes and Fernando were taken to the city police station for questioning.

Police seized from the soldiers two 9 mm Glock pistols, one loaded  and the other without a magazine.

Col. John Divinagracia, head of the multi-agency anti-terror Task Force Zamboanga, said the three soldiers have already been relieved from their battalion and will further be investigated.

Maj. Arvin John Encinas, Western Mindanao Command spokesperson, expressed dismay for the soldiers’ behavior and issued a public apology.

Encinas said the soldiers could either be discharged or demoted./TSB