The 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (PA) has insisted that the actions of its CAFGU Active Auxiliary (CAA) member Donan Sucia that led to the death of two civilians in Negros Occidental were in “self-defense”.

Sucia is a member of the Negros Occidental CAA Company of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion and was responding  to a request to pacify certain personalities who “ran amok” in Barangay Montilla, Moises Padilla on Jan. 2 along with his team. 

John Albert Templatura and Godofredo Templatura allegedly became unruly and started a commotion in front of Punong Barangay Nenita Alconera's residence.

The Army claimed that upon the arrival of the responding team, Templatura drew his bolo and attempted to stab CAA Sucia prompting the latter to fire at the victim.

“Meanwhile, Godofredo, John Albert's father, approached CAA Sucia, with the intention to take his rifle, forced the latter to shoot him as well. The incident resulted in the death of both Templaturas and the wounding of two other on-lookers namely; Marites Rafol and Jeisel Abaño. Both were recuperating in a separate hospital in Bacolod City and Silay City and are in stable condition,” the PA stated.

In a statement, 3rd Infantry Division commander Maj. Gen. Marion R Sison said that such was an “unfortunate incident.”

“I am saddened by the fact that lives were lost and others left wounded as our security forces responded to a request for assistance,” said Sison.

“For certain, they had no intentions to take life but to maintain peace and order. While we believe that the actions of CAA Sucia were to preserve his own life, we submit our position to the wisdom of the court in this regard,” he added.