Air Force sergeant shot dead by drinking buddy in Cagayan de Oro
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Two Air Force servicemen here had a heated argument during a drinking session late Friday night that ended up with one of them shooting the other.
On Saturday, police identified the victim as Staff Sgt. Renante BlAdd Newanco, 39, married, and a resident of Barangay Pulung Maragul in Angeles City, Pampanga.
Investigators said Blanco and Airman 2nd Class Reymart Jayme Noquera, 26, were drinking inside the Air Force Tactical Operations Group-10 (TOG-10) headquarters at the city’s old airport facility in Barangay Lumbia at around 10:45 p.m. on Friday when the shooting happened.
Police had not determined if the two were with a group of other servicemen during the incident.
Both Blanco and Noquera were assigned at TOG-10.
Airman 2nd Class Alijani Sapayani told police investigators he heard Blanco and Noquera arguing before a series of shots rang out from the back of the TOC-10 headquarters a few minutes later.
According to the police report, Blanco had a single gunshot wound in the back of his head.
Police said the suspect used his issued firearm, an M-16 Elisco assault rifle.
Blanco was taken to the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division hospital in Barangay Patag where he was declared dead by the attending physician at around 12:15 a.m. Saturday.
Law enforcers recovered 16 shells of 5.56-mm ammunition at the crime scene. This is the type of ammunition used for M16 rifles.
Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, 4ID spokesperson, said Noquera was temporarily put in his division’s detention facility before being turned over to the Air Force.
Police took the suspect’s firearm for safekeeping.
As of this writing, the Air Force has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.
