Soldier arrested for killing girl

TAGUM CITY, Philippines – An Army soldier was arrested for accidentally shooting to death an eight-year-old girl at a mining village in Pantukan, Compostela Valley, on Friday, the military said  Saturday.

Private First Class Baltazar Ramos is now detained at the Pantukan police station for the killing of Sunshine Jabines, said Lieutenant Colonel Camilo Ligayo, commander of the Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion.

Ligayo said the incident happened during an altercation between Ramos, a member of the 71st IB, and a group of customers inside a videoke bar in the village of Biasong  past 11:30 p.m. on Friday

“One of the members of the group tried to hit Private First Class Ramos with a bottle, prompting him to get his rifle from his patrol base and confront the person. The soldier was pacified by his colleagues, who were able to remove the ammunition magazine from the rifle, but a bullet was apparently left in the chamber, causing the firearm to go off, hitting the victim,” Ligayo said in an e-mail to the Inquirer.

It was not immediately known what the child was doing at the scene at such a late hour.

Ligayo said the child was rushed to the Pantukan district hospital but died upon arrival.

“We do not condone any acts committed by our soldiers in violation of our laws. Pfc Ramos was immediately discharged from the military service and will face appropriate criminal charges,” said Ligayo. “We will make sure that justice is served to the family of the victim and that all of their needs will be provided by this unit.”