Marine officer shot dead at Navy station

MANILA, Philippines - A junior Marine officer was shot dead in Fort Bonifacio’s Naval Station in Taguig City Wednesday morning.

The body of 1Lt. Shelian Calumay, 33, was found in the driver’s seat of her gray Suzuki Swift, which was parked in front of the Jurado Hall at around 6 a.m., Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Marineth Domingo said.

“The investigation is still ongoing. Close coordination is being done by the Navy and the Philippine National Police (PNP),” Domingo said when asked if Calumay’s killer had been identified and the motive for her murder established.

Calumay served as an aide-de-camp of Marine Brig. Gen. Remegio Valdez, the Navy’s incumbent Inspector General. She also served as the disbursing officer of the unit, which conducts regular inspections to prevent irregularities in the Navy.

According to investigators, Calumay was shot in the face, with the bullet exiting through her car’s left window. They ruled out suicide since no gun was recovered in the car and her personal belongings were missing.

Aside from the joint police and Navy investigation, Navy chief Vice Admiral Jesus Millan also ordered a parallel probe to be conducted by the Board of Investigators and spearheaded by the Naval Provost Marshal for the speedy resolution of the case.

Domingo said investigators have yet to find out who were the last persons who saw Calumay alive.

“The Navy is extending its condolences and deepest sympathy to 1Lt. Calumay’s husband, Sgt. Jeremy Calumay, also a Marine soldier, their baby and all her loved ones,” Domingo said.

Calumay was killed while the Navy and police are still investigating the theft of millions of pesos from the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Commissary Service branch at the Naval Station last Nov. 17.

Domingo, however, said they do not see any indications that the two cases are related.