- GILBERT BAYORAN
Heated arguments led to an armed confrontation early morning today, Nov. 16, at a restobar in Brgy. Singcang Airport, Bacolod City, that claimed the life of an Army soldier and injured four others, police said.
The fatality was identified as PFC Edmark Iwayan, 26, of Brgy. Balintawak, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
Initial police investigations showed that Jobert Visem, a former Army soldier and owner of the ToLips restobar, and his two companions, Iwayan and PFC Joebert Villagracia, were having a drinking session when the group of the suspect, named as Ulysis Carampatana, arrived.
Heated arguments ensued between Carampatana and Visem, who refused to take their second orders of beers, since he was already closing his restobar.
Carampatana drew a gun out, resulting in the armed confrontation, police investigations showed.
Villagracia sustained injuries after he was mauled, while Carampatana and his companion, John Joseph Magahum, as well as Visem, sustained gunshot wounds, the Police Station 8 reported.
Visem and Carampatana were brought to the Bacolod Adventist Medical Center, while Villagracia, Magahum and Iwayan were rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Iwayan, however, died from several gunshot wounds, the report said.
Recovered at the scene of incident were a caliber 45 pistol with serial number 019596AFP, and five of its fired cartridges, five deformed slugs, and 11 empty shells of a caliber 9mm pistol.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, said they will conduct a separate probe to prevent such an incident from happening again.
Visem used to be a member of the Philippine Army, and Iwayan and Villagracia were his colleagues during their Scout Ranger training.
Iwayan and Villagracia were among those honored by the 3ID for the neutralization of Romeo Nanta, regional commander of the NPA in Negros, who died in an encounter in Brgy. Carabalan, Himamaylan City, last month./GB
