Soldier who killed 3 superior officers still at large

MANILA, Philippines - The soldier who allegedly shot dead three of his superior officers, claiming he was denied permission to attend his father’s burial, is still at large days after fleeing from the Army’s barracks in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

Army spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said military and police intelligence operatives have leads as to the whereabouts of Sgt. Elias Tial, though they are asking him to surrender and face charges before civilian and military courts.

Brawner said Tial, assigned to the Army’s elite Special Operations Command, is not considered “armed and dangerous” because the firearm used in the shooting was taken away from him during the scuffle that followed.

Brawner said that last Thursday, Tial reportedly went berserk – apparently due to depression brought about by the recent death of his uncle and his father in Iloilo – and fired upon his superiors, who were having a meeting at the transient barracks at Fort Bonifacio.

Master Sgt. Elesio Dela Cruz, the company first sergeant, died on the spot, while two other officers – First Lieutenant Gerald Fuentes, the team leader, and Capt. Dionico Aragon Jr., the executive officer – died while being treated at a hospital.

Capt. Benito Ramos Jr., Tial’s commanding officer, sustained gunshot wounds and was rushed to the Makati Medical Center. He is now in stable condition.

The suspect and the victims were all assigned at the Army’s Special Operations Command based in Nueva Ecija and were in Manila to prepare for the parade marking the Army’s anniversary next month.

Brawner said Tial’s father died last Saturday and the soldier had just been given permission to go on leave to attend the burial when he allegedly went berserk.

According to earlier reports, Tial was heard shouting that his superior officers did not give him permission to attend his father’s burial. – James Mananghaya