Soldier shoots co-soldier to death inside IB camp

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Burst of gunfire roused the neighborhood surrounding the 61st Infantry Battalion camp at Barangay Lagdungan in Tapaz town of Capiz.

The scene that greeted soldiers at 4 a.m. Thursday was that of the body of Private First Class Delio Sebarillo, who was already bathing in his pool of blood.

There was no witness to the crime that was apparently carried out by PFC Sarjie Labao, the alleged gunman. He appeared to be panting but there was no sign that he attempted to flee.

Labao simply walked towards his senior non-commissioned officer, Staff Sergeant Jalandoni, and handed his two firearms: An R4 assault rifle, which was his service firearm, and a caliber .9mm pistol, which was his personal gun.

Lieutenant Colonel Sisenando Magbalot, 61st IB commander, said Labao used the pistol in shooting Sebarillo. The 37-year-old victim was rushed to the Tapaz District Hospital at Barangay Switch but was declared dead on arrival due to multiple gunshot injuries.

The 28-year-old Labao,  who hails from Mambusao in Capiz, was immediately turned over to the custody of Tapaz Police Station. Sebarillo, 37, was a native of Mandurriao district in Iloilo City but his family is now based in Manapla, Negros Occidental.

Colonel Benedicto Arevalo, commanding officer of the 301st Infantry Brigade, said that both Sebarillo and Labao were members of the 94th IB, a newly-activated battalion based in Negros Oriental.

The 94th IB’s Bravo Company was only deployed to Capiz last week of June to augment Army troops in the area. It was placed under the operational control of the 61st IB.

Magbalot said there was no fight prior to the incident, and that Sebarillo and Labao were not also at odds against each other. Both of them were staying in the same barracks.

Labao just finished rendering his 3 a.m. to 4 a.m. duty when the incident happened. Sebarillo arrived to take over the guard post, near the camp’s gate, from 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. when the younger soldier just shot him.

Labao appeared to have no record of misdeeds in his six years of service. Sebarillo, on the other hand, already served the Philippine Army for 14 years.

“We learned, though, that Labao was hospitalized before they were assigned here,” Magbalot said, although it was not immediately known what was Labao’s ailment that caused his confinement.

Magbalot said war shock on Labao was also not possible because the latter was not assigned yet to war-torn areas, except that he was previously deployed to Bohol province. “We would be checking on his (Labao) medical records if what happened (the shooting) was triggered by some psychological problems,” Magbalot said.

Arevalo said they immediately informed Sebarillo‘s family about what happened. “We also assured the family that investigation will be done to give justice to the slain soldier,” he said, while assuring for a speedy processing of financial assistance. It was gathered that Sebarillo left behind three children.