Army denies killed fixer was military

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Army denied that an alleged fixer shot dead by a security guard in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday was a member of the military.

Lieutenant Colonel Randolph G Cabangbang, Army spokesman, said in a statement Tuesday that there is no Captain Christine Tugade in the roster of Army personnel, as shown in the alleged fixer’s identification card found after the incident.

“We are of the belief that this person is using the name of the Philippine Army to extort money from possible victims in exchange for some favors, just like security guard Melodio Tindoy who paid P10,000 for his reinstatement in the military service,” said Cabangbang.

Tugade reportedly introduced herself as an officer at the Philippine Army and promised Tindoy that she would help him be reinstated to service. Tindoy paid P10,000 for the “assistance” but soon realized it was a fraud and reported the matter to police.

Tindoy is a security guard employed under the Kintanar Security Agency and assigned at the Philtranco Bus Terminal in Cubao, police record shows. He was a former member of the Philippine Army but was discharged from service after being absent without leave.

He sought police assistance and an entrapment operation was setup against Tugade but Tindoy lost his cool and shot her to death instead.

The security guard fled after the incident and remains at large.

The Philippine Army warned the public to be cautious in dealing with persons claiming to be members of the military, especially when there is money involved.