An Army sergeant shot dead a fellow soldier early Wednesday morning after engaging in a heated argument in front of a bar in Taguig City.
Police identified the victim as Private First Class Niko del Pilar, assigned to the Philippine Army Military Police Battalion-Headquarters and Headquarters Support Group (MPBn HHSG).
Authorities identified the primary suspect as Technical Sergeant Gilbert Gella, who later surrendered. His companions — Sergeant John Necesito, detailed at AFP’s Light Reaction Regiment (LRR), and Jepoy Arcilla, a striker at LRR — were arrested. Two others remain at large.
Police investigation showed that the incident happened in front of a bar on Bayani Road in Barangay Western Bicutan around 2:35 a.m.
The victim reportedly had a confrontation with the suspects after a bottle cap, allegedly coming from the group, landed on his table.
According to a report from the AFP, Gella, in attempt to finish the discussion, left the group and proceeded to his car, but Del Pilar allegedly ran after him.
Del Pilar reportedly went inside Gella’s car and stabbed him.
The AFP report said the wounded Gella shot Del Pilar in the neck, killing him instantly.
Gella surrendered to authorities while Necesito and Arcilla were immediately arrested by responding policemen.
Police are still hunting down the remaining suspects who managed to escape onboard a jeep.
“The Philippine Army condoles with the family of Private First Class Del Pilar and will extend any necessary assistance,” Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Zagala, Army spokesperson, said.
“We will fully comply with the investigation of the authorities on the personnel involved in order to attain justice as swift as possible,” he continued.
“On the other hand, we will conduct our own parallel investigation as we continue to caution our soldiers to adhere to the principles of military discipline and proper decorum whether they are in uniform or not, whether inside or outside military jurisdiction,” he added. (Joseph Pedrajas, Martin Sadongdong)
