Soldier killed by colleague at Army teambuilding event

BACOLOD CITY – A team building activity of an Army infantry unit in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, turned bloody on Sunday when one of its participants shot and killed his fellow soldier and wounded another.

Private first class Rusky Balgona, 30, was declared dead on arrival at the Cadiz District Hospital.

Police said Balgona was shot by his colleague, Sgt. Aproniano Dominguez, at the Little Jungle Beach Resort in Barangay Magsaysay, Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

Supt. Edel Jose Manzano, Cadiz City police chief, on Monday said that the shooting was triggered by a misunderstanding between Balgona and Dominguez, both members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion assigned in northern Negros.

Investigation by the Cadiz City police showed that both the victim and the suspect were apparently under the influence of liquor when the incident happened.

Dominguez reportedly got the M-16 assault rifle of one of their security escorts and shot Balgona.

Pfc. Arjoe Gabia, who tried to pacify and disarm Domingo, was also shot in the right palm, Manzano said.

Domingo was later subdued by his colleagues.

Cadiz policemen, who responded to the shooting incident, recovered 15 empty shells and five live bullets for M16 rifle at the scene of incident.

Dominguez is now detained pending the filing of murder and frustrated murder charges against him./ac/rga