Five dead after soldier goes on killing spree at Philippines military camp
‘We assure the public that this is an isolated incident,’ says army spokesperson
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A soldier went on a killing spree at a military camp in southern Philippines, killing four of his colleagues before being shot dead, officials said.
The shooter went on a rampage at an army compound in Cagayan de Oro City after 1:00am local time on Saturday, resulting in the deaths of four service personnel, according to a statement released by major Francisco Garello, the spokesperson for the 4th Infantry Division.
The shooter then reportedly went to other rooms, where two soldiers engaged him in a struggle before killing him.
“We assure the public that this is an isolated incident,” the spokesperson said.
Apart from five deaths. another individual suffered life-threatening injuries from the shooting.
According to the military, an internal investigation has been launched to look into the incident. The official said an investigative body will also look into any flaws in the recruitment and training process.
While gun violence is relatively uncommon in the Philippines, however, some incidents have been reported in the last few years, sparking calls for improved security measures and stricter gun laws.
In the month of June, a graduation day shooting in the Philippine capital of Manila claimed the lives of three people, one of whom was a former mayor.
In August 2018, a gunman opened fire on a group of people in a shopping mall in Manila, killing five and injuring several others. The attacker was a disgruntled former security guard who had been fired from his job.
In 2017, a gunman stormed a casino in Manila, setting fire to gaming tables and killing 37 people, mostly from smoke inhalation. The attacker, who was carrying an assault rifle, was identified as a lone gunman who had been struggling with heavy gambling debts.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments