BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An Army soldier was killed, while his buddy and three others were injured, inside a restobar at Lacson Extension in Brgy. Singcang Airport, Bacolod City, following an armed confrontation triggered by heated arguments, early morning yesterday.
The incident claimed the life of 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, both assigned at the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division, were having a drinking session when the group of the suspect, Ulysis Carampatana, arrived.
Heated arguments ensued between Carampatana and Visem, who refused to take the former’s second orders of beers, as he was closing the restobar since it was already past 1 a.m.
When Carampatana took his gun, this led to an armed confrontation that killed Iwayan, police investigations further showed.
Villagracia, on the other hand, also suffered injuries as a result of mauling, while Carampatana, his companion, John Joseph Magahum and Visem suffered gunshot injuries, according to initial investigations of Police Station 8.
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, all in Bacolod City, for treatment of their injuries.
However, Iwayan was already dead, police further said.
Recovered from the scene of incident were a caliber .45 pistol with serial number 019596AFP and five fired cartridges, five deformed slugs and 11 empty shells of a 9mm pistol.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, yesterday said that they will also conduct a separate probe aimed at preventing similar incidents from happening in the future.
Visem used to be a member of the Philippine Army, and Iwayan and Villagracia were his former colleagues during 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.*
