2 killed in shooting incident aboard ship; suspect flees

MANILA, Philippines – Two workers of a ship were killed after a colleague ran amok following an argument with one of the victims before dawn Friday, police said.

Police Officer 3 Rodel Benitez of Manila Police District’s Homicide Division identified the slain victims as Manuel Ramilo, ship captain; and Rolando Corsiga, ship checker, both of M/T Sarah Margarita.

Benitez said the ship was on its way to Petron Bataan Refinery at Lubao Bataan for a refill of bunker fuel around 3 a.m. when Corsiga was overheard arguing with the suspect identified as Reynaldo Bulawan, a ship pump-man, inside the pilot house. Ramilo was at the steering wheel at that time.

“Not long after, burst of gun fires were heard at the direction of the pilot house,” Benitez said.

Armed with a hand gun and a jungle knife (bolo), the suspect then ordered chief mate Edwin Bisly to maneuver the ship back towards Delpan Bridge, where he jumped off to another barge, the investigator said, adding that Bisly was forced to follow the suspect out of fear for his own life.

Ramilo was found lying face down with a gunshot wound to his left armpit, while Corsiga sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest and another two at the back, Benitez said.

Nine spent shells, one deformed slug and a piece of live ammunition, all from a .9-milimeter pistol, were found at the crime scene, he said.

Meanwhile, Benitez said, the seven other crew members of M/T Sarah Margarita were taken to the MPD-Homicide Division to undergo paraffin cast examination. The wife of Bulawan was also invited to encourage her husband to surrender himself.