EDITORIAL - Murder in the Naval Station

There may be no connection, but inevitably the murder last month of a junior Marine officer is being linked to the reported disappearance of an estimated P2 million from a naval facility.

The money went missing from the Armed Forces of the Philippines Commissary Service branch at the Fort Bonifacio Naval Station on Nov. 17. About two weeks later, 1Lt. Shelian Calumay was shot dead inside her car at the Naval Station. Calumay, 33, served as a special disbursing officer and the aide-de-camp of Navy Inspector General Remegio Valdez, whose office investigates wrongdoing in the service. Calumay was shot in the face. The gun and her personal belongings were missing when she was found in the car. Her relatives naturally want justice, but the record of the Navy when it comes to mysterious deaths within its premises is not encouraging. And the glacial administration of justice has not helped.

It’s been 19 years since Navy Ensign Philip Andrew Pestaño was found dead with a gunshot to the head in his cabin on the Navy supply vessel BRP Bacolod City on Sept. 27, 1995. The case has not been resolved. Last week the Court of Appeals dismissed a motion for reconsideration filed by 10 former Navy officers seeking to stop their prosecution before a trial court. The Philippine Navy said Pestaño committed suicide. His relatives said he was about to expose corruption on the logistics vessel. Will the truth ever be known?

Now a death within the Naval Station may again involve Navy or other military personnel. President Aquino, as commander-in-chief, should order defense and AFP officials to cooperate fully with the police investigation and make sure that no one is spared. Calumay’s murder may involve crooked deals – something that the Aquino administration wants to eliminate. Bringing Calumay’s killer to justice will help discourage more anomalies.