No official report yet on death of US serviceman in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY — American military officials here are still waiting for the order of US State Department of Defense to release the official report on the death of an American serviceman who drowned in a lake in Panamao, Sulu.

Capt. Meritt Philipps, the public affairs officer of the US Joint Special Operation Task Force-Philippines (JSOTF-P), said they cannot release any official statement yet.

Sources from the JSOTF-P and local military identified the victim as US Army M/Sgt. Joe Curreri, of Southern California.

Local military official earlier reported the remains of Curreri were recovered Saturday morning after he went diving at Lake Seit in Barangay Seit in Panamao last Friday to search for his missing necklace that reportedly fell into the lake.

Maj. Gen. Ruben Rafael, commander of the Joint Task Force Comet, said local Marines and US forces conducted a night search and rescue operation and recovered the body of Curreri about 8 a.m. last Saturday.

He said there were no signs of foul play in the death of the US serviceman and described it as an accident.

Former JSOFT-P spokesman Lt. Commander Fred Kuebler also said the death of their fellow soldier was a non-combat related incident.

The remains of Curreri were airlifted to this port city, however, the JSOTF-P based here could not say if the body of the victim was flown already to his home in United States.

“At this point we cannot give any official information as we have to wait for the official release from the Department of Defense,” Philipps said.    — Roel Pareño