Marine kills colleague in Basilan

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A Marine attacked and killed a colleague in Maluso, Basilan, on Wednesday night, Christmas Eve.

Chief Insp. Edwin Placio, the operations chief of Basilan Police Provincial office, identified the victim as Sergeant Errol Molin Chavez of Bingwan, Iloilo, and the suspect as Private First Class Dave Bryan Cervito Abang of Tacurong City, both members of the Marine Battalion Landing Team 11 based in Maluso, Placio.

“The victim suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the chest and the right and left arms. The suspect used his own service weapon, an M16 rifle,” Placio said, adding that police were still investigating why Abang attacked his superior.

Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero, chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said initial reports showed that the two had a “personal rift.”