Soldier shoots own men in Iloilo; 1 killed, 4 wounded

ILOILO CITY—A soldier shot dead a government militiaman and wounded four others in Maasin town in Iloilo early Sunday.

Staff Sergeant Alvin Estorco, controller of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliaries (CAA), allegedly shot dead Albert Magarse and wounded Juan Magarse, Aljun Magarse, Michael Magarse and Jorge Calibayan around 4:30 a.m. in Barangay Panalian.

Officials of the Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion turned over Estorco and his R4 assault rifle to the Maasin police station around 11:30 a.m., according to Senior Insp. Feliz Allanza Jr.

Allanza said the shooting happened while Estorco and 16 CAA members under his command were coming home on foot from the neighboring village of Ubian where they provided security for a community dance.

Estorco was in the middle of the group who was walking single file when he went to the front of the line.

He suddenly shot the five CAA personnel on the back, according to Allanza.

“He told us that he thought they were their enemy,” Allanza told the INQUIRER.

One of the CAA members behind Estorco managed to wrestle the firearm from the soldier.

Estorco, who realized he shot his own men, helped load the victims in vehicles before he returned to their detachment in Panalian village where he waited for the police and his superiors.

The victims were brought to the Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in the neighboring town of Cabatuan but physicians pronounced Albert Magarse dead on arrival due to multiple bullet wounds in the back.

The four wounded CAA members also had back wounds, according to Allanza.

Allanza said Estorco and the CAA members were intoxicated when the shooting happened.

The Maasin police office is preparing to file criminal complaints against Estorco for murder and four counts of frustrated murder.

Security has been enhanced in Maasin town following attacks of New People’s Army rebels in Maasin, around 31 kilometers from Iloilo City.

On Nov 24 last year, NPA rebels ambushed a convoy of policemen coming home from an operation, killing a policeman and wounding 10 others.

Earlier on June 18, NPA rebels raided and overran the Maasin police station before fleeing with 15 firearms including 12 high-powered rifles. /je