ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police arrested a militiaman for indiscriminately firing two guns inside a Philippine Army detachment in the municipality of Mabuhay, Zamboanga Sibugay province, on Tuesday night, May 9.
Police Major Shellamie Chang, Police Regional Office-9 information officer, said the suspect, Benjamin Bariwa Hussin, arrived at the 44th Infantry Battalion (IB)-Philippine Army detachment in Barangay Looc Barlac apparently intoxicated and confronted Romeo C. Jumalon, a militiaman serving as the guard on duty.
Hussin took his government-issue M14 rifle and fired several shots into the air. When the gun jammed, Hussin took the M16 rifle of another militiaman and continued firing.
When Hussin was accosted by Jumalon, he fired his gun towards the victim, but missed and hit a pickup vehicle owned by the local government of Mabuhay.
Police recovered an M14 and an M16 rifle, pieces of fired cartridge, and one live ammunition in the detachment.
Hussin and Jumalon were placed under the custody of the 44th IB-PA in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay.
Mabuhay police are coordinating with the 44th IB in their investigation.