Traffic row leads to slay of 2 soldiers

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A vacation turned awry for a junior Army officer and an airman who were killed in a shooting incident triggered by a traffic altercation before dawn yesterday, police said.

Senior Superintendent Edwin de Ocampo, city police chief, identified the victims as 2Lt. Orlando Soreño, assigned in Davao City, and his cousin, Airman Johnny John Soreño Simeon, 21, who were both here for their Christmas break.

The identity of the suspect, a newly retired policeman, was withheld pending investigation and his arrest.

De Ocampo said Simeon, together with two companions, a fireman and a policeman, had come from a drinking spree in a reunion party at the Paseo del Mar and were on their way home on board a motorcycle when they figured in an accident with another motorcycle driven by the retired policeman. 

A verbal tussle ensued, prompting Simeon to call Sereño, who was just nearby. 

Moments later, gunshots rang out and Simeon and Sereño lay dead.