BACOLOD CITY — Local policemen are investigating the death of a personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) inside the PCG Special Operations Force Training Center at Barangay Talacagay, Hinoba-an, Negros Occidental on Saturday.
Police Lt. Jaime Depillo, deputy police chief of Hinoba-an Municipal Police Station, withheld the name of the 42-year-old victim from North Cotabato, who was supposed to celebrate his 43rd birthday on Sept.15.
Depillo said the victim’s nephew, who is a PCG applicant, found his uncle lifeless at his barracks, with an M16 rifle beside him.
Depillo said the victim had a lone gunshot wound in his head.
Police recovered from the scene the victim’s issued M16 rifle and a fired cartridge case.
Depillo said the victim would usually sleep after his duty from midnight to dawn, thus he instructed his nephew to never disturb him while he is sleeping.
But, it was around 2:30 p.m. when his nephew checked on him, and discovered the incident.
Depillo said they could not yet confirm if indeed the victim claimed his life, as they are also looking into a possible accidental firing.
He also said they are not dismissing a possible foul play, while the case is under investigation.
The victim was assigned to the province for a few years now, he added.
Depillo said the victim’s body will be transported to his wife’s hometown in Mindanao.