CAGAYAN DE ORO – One hour past midnight on February 11, soldiers at the Philippine Army’s Camp Evangelista woke up to a spate of gunfire. Their first thought: the NPA rebels are attacking.

To their surprise, one of their soldiers ran amok and shot fellow soldiers sleeping inside the barracks.

Using his service M16 rifle, Private Johmar Villabito aimed at his fellow soldiers from the Service Support Battalion (SSBn) of the 4th Infantry Division.

Four soldiers were killed, and one was hurt.

But it appears that after Villabito shot five soldiers sleeping in one room, he searched for more victims in the other rooms of the barracks.

“The soldiers were already awakened by the gunshots and were ready for Villabito to enter,” Army 4th ID public affairs chief Maj. Francisco Garello Jr. said.

As Villabito entered another barracks, two soldiers reportedly tackled him. However, allegedly during the scuffle, the private was killed.

Why did a private run amok?

It is still a mystery what triggered the 37-year-old soldier to kill his fellow soldiers.

Garello said the Army’s Board of Inquiry (BOI) Team and the Philippine National Police are investigating the incident to determine what made Villabito lose his mind and shoot his fellow soldiers.

Based on Army’s initial investigation, Pvt. Villabito tested negative for alcohol or drugs.

Garello said they also asked his parents if Villabito had shared some problems with them. “Wala naman daw problema,” he told republicasia. His colleagues also attested that he is a kind soul.

The Army investigators have also ruled out Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as the trigger for his rampage. Pvt. Villabito was a recruit last year and never went to any combat. 

“He was a former seaman. We hired him during the pandemic when the Army had a special recruitment program,” Garello said.

A native of Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Villabito was a good mechanic. “Nabubuhay nya ang mga patay na engine, truck, Army vehicles. He’s a highly skilled mechanic kasi nga galing sa barko. Nung nawalan ng sakay sa barko, he joined the Army as private, with a guaranteed salary of P40,00 a month,” the Army officer said.

When asked if the Army probers are looking at a love angle, Garello replied, “That’s one of the theories that we are looking at.”

At age 37, he was still single.

The soldier was all good from around 8 am-5 pm, fixing vehicles. “Between 5pm till 12md, he went out. That’s what we are trying to look at right now. Saan sya pumunta? Sino kausap nya?”

4th ID in mourning

The entire 4th ID mourned over a tragic incident involving their soldiers.

The Philippine flag is on half-mast to show the Army’s grief with the loss of our soldiers. 

Full military honors were given to the following soldiers killed:

• Sgt Rogelio O Rojo Jr PA from Tambo, Iligan City
• Cpl Bernard A Rodrigo PA from Tagpangi, CDOC
• PFC Prince Kevin C Balaba PA from Maigo, Lanao del Norte/Iligan City
• Pvt Joseph A Tamayo PA from Alegria, Surigao del Norte

Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and 4th ID Commander Major General Wilbur Mamawag went to the soldiers’ wake and expressed sympathies to the bereaved.

They also visited the soldier injured during the shooting – Staff Sgt Braulio E Macalos Jr PA – at Camp Evangelista Station Hospital.