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Hunt on for Army sarge who gunned down three comrades

02/27/2009

Police and military operatives have launched massive manhunt operations against an Army sergeant who killed three soldiers and wounded another during a shooting rampage inside their barracks at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City last Wednesday night.

According to Philippine Army (PA) spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner, the Army and police operatives are now hunting down the gunman identified as Sgt. Elias Tial.

Initial investigation showed Tial was on duty when he went to the 3rd floor of Barracks 3 at the Transient Quarters of the 12th Special Forces Coy where his superiors were having a meeting around 10 p.m.

Taguig police chief Senior Supt. Camilo Cascolan claimed Tial opened fire using an M-16 rifle, killing First Lt. Gerald Fuentes, intelligence officer of the Army 12th Special Forces Company; M/Sgt. Eliseo de la Cruz, 12SFCO first sergeant, and Capt. Danilo Aragon, 12 SFCO executive officer.

De la Cruz died on the spot while the three other victims were rushed to Fort Bonifacio General Hospital then transferred to Makati Medical Center, Cascolan said.

He added Fuentes was declared dead on arrival by physicians at the Makati Medical Center while Aragon succumbed to his gunshot wounds around 11:15 a.m. yesterday.

Ramos, on the other hand, was declared out of danger by his attending doctors.

Brawner said before the shooting, the suspect asked permission to attend the funeral of his father, who died last Sunday, and was allowed by his commanding officer to file a leave.

Quoting witnesses, Brawner said Tial shouted, “Hindi kayo marunong magpauwi ng sundalong nangangailangan (You do not know how to let an officer in need go home),” before firing at the officers.

“Siguro nagipon-ipon lang ‘yung sama ng loob niya (Maybe he just could not contain his ill feelings),” Brawner said.

Last month, Tial was also allowed to go home to Iloilo to attend the funeral of his uncle, Brawner said.

The suspect escaped after the incident but police were able to retrieve the M-16 rifle he used in the shooting, Cascolan said.

Cascolan added they would assist the Army in its investigation into the incident.

Gina Peralta-Elorde