PMA official gunned down

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines – A Philippine Military Academy (PMA) official was gunned down last Thursday afternoon in a subdivision here where he and other military and police officers and retired soldiers reside.

The killing of Lt. Col. Ferdinand Topacio Macasaet, 43, head of the PMA’s department of air warfare and headquarters tactics group, occurred as the academy was busy preparing for tomorrow’s graduation of Class Laon-Alab where President Aquino would be the guest of honor and speaker.

Macasaet, a member of PMA Class 1989, was reportedly headed home at Pinesville Subdivision on board his Mitsubishi Montero when the gunman, wearing a red-black ski mask and black sweatshirt, fired at him with a caliber .40 pistol.

Police described the gunman as about 40 to 50 years old, medium built and at least 5 feet, 5 inches tall.