Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 1) — A shootout Friday evening right inside a military camp in Patikul, Sulu, left three soldiers dead, authorities said Saturday.
The Sulu Provincial Police Office identified the suspect as Cpl Jack Indap, who shot to death his superior officers, Major Rael Gabot and 1Lt. Ryan Lamoste at the headquarters of the 9th Field Artillery Firestorm Battalion at Barangay Liang.
Police said one of the victims, Lamoste, confronted the suspect for hitting a mess duty personnel. The suspect admitted he was drunk.
Lamoste then relieved the suspect from his post as sentinel, resulting in a heated argument.
When another officer, Gabot, tried to intervene, the suspect fired shots at his superiors with his service firearm, police said.
A responding officer shot the suspect.
All three enlisted personnel were brought to the Camp Bautista Station Hospital in nearby Jolo town, but were declared dead on arrival, according to the Western Mindanao Command.
Major Arvin Encinas, spokesperson of the WesMinCom, said the 11th Infantry Division is investigating the incident.
“The Joint Task Force Sulu is saddened by what had happened and assured the next of kin of the soldiers that proper investigation by the PNP will be undertaken,” Encinas said in a statement.
