MANILA, Philippines - A soldier allegedly killed himself after shooting it out with members of the Navotas police’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) unit after he and a fellow Philippine Army soldier had a drinking spree Sunday.
A bystander, Serafin Tanglay, 36, suffered a gunshot wound during the shooting and is confined at the Tondo General Hospital.
City police chief Senior Superintendent Florendo Quibuyen identified the soldier who committed suicide as Private April Joe Palad, 24, of Old Fishport street in North Bay Boulevard North.
Investigators said Palad could have used a .45 caliber pistol, loaded with four bullets, that was found at the scene along with a deformed slug and five cartridges.
Quibuyen said the gun and the bullets belonged to Palad’s colleague in the Army, Private Sammy Rubio, 22, who was visiting Palad when the incident happened.
According to reports, the two Army buddies were drinking liquor at Palad’s house when Palad asked for Rubio’s service firearm and started shooting indiscriminately. Alarmed neighbors called police, and a SWAT team responded. Palad allegedly shot at the police officers, hitting Tanglay in the process.
Quibuyen said Palad went up to the third floor as the SWAT members stormed his house and collared Rubio, who did not resist arrest.
Palad’s brother, Jay, said he went after the victim but found him already dead, with a gunshot wound in the head.
Rubio denied any participation in the shooting but was detained at the city police jail for further questioning.
The motive for Palad’s suicide remains unclear, investigators said.