ZAMBOANGA CITY – A member of the police’s 84th Special Action Force company that killed international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, was wounded after a colleague shot him during an altercation Sunday night.
Supt. Ariel Huesca, spokesperson of the Zamboanga City Police Office, identified the victim as SAF member PO3 Brendonlord Supetran, 31, who was wounded in the stomach.
Huesca said initial investigation revealed that Supetran and the suspect, PO3 Benwel Jupuri, were having a drinking spree inside the SAF Barracks in Upper Calarian here, when the incident happened.
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Huesca said the two, who were under the influence of alcohol, had a fight which ended with Jupuri shooting Supetran.
“The suspect accidentally shot the victim using Glock 9mm,” Huesca said.
Jupuri proceeded to the Sinunuc Police Station 8 to report the incident.
“He is temporarily detained at Sinunuc PS8 detention cell while the subject firearm was placed under the custody of the said police station,” Huesca said.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of misunderstanding between the two police officers.
The 84th SAF company, also known as Seaborne, was responsible for killing Marwan last January 25 in Mamasapano.
While successful, the mission ended in tragedy when 44 SAF members, including eight from 84th SAF company, were killed in an ensuing clash with a combined force of Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, and private armed groups.
Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro, city police chief, said that Supetran and Jupuri were not among those who killed Marwan and engaged in the firefight with rebels.
The police official said the two were left at La Vista del Mar Resort in Upper Calarian, where the SAF reportedly trained for the operation, when the raid in Mamasapano took place.
Updated @ 1:15 p.m., March 9, 2015
Originally posted @ 12:25 p.m., March 9, 2015