Probe on in death of army officer

By Mar T. Supnad

TARLAC CITY- A Junior officer of the Philippine Army was found dead inside his room and authorities are investigating whether there was a foul play or not in the sudden death of the victim, police said.

Chief Insp. Karen Clark, regional police spokesman, reported that 2Lt. Christopher Laid, detailed at 6th Infantry Division’s 75th Infantry battalion, in Cotabato City, was found lifeless inside the bedroom of his alleged girlfriend in Block 2, Sitio Tarvet, Barangay San Rafael, here.

Lt. Dait, a native of Casilla, Sorsogon, reportedly visited his girlfriend indentified as Maryknell KC Pizarro in San Rafael last Dec. 29, after taking a leave from duty.

Early morning of Jan. 3, however, Josefina Pizarro, mother of the victim’s girlfriend, personally reported to police that they discovered the lifeless body of the Army officer inside his bedroom.

Initial investigation conducted by SPO2 Arnel Ermitanio of Tarlac City police disclosed on Dec. 29, the victim arrived at the house of his girlfriend to celebrate New Year’s Day.

On the evening of Jan 2, victim reportedly fell asleep alone at the bedroom of his girlfriend.

At about 7 a.m. the next day, Marynell reportedly went inside the bedroom of her boyfriend and discovered the lifeless body of the victim laid on the floor.

Victim was immediately rushed to Central Luzon Doctor’s Hospital for medical treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival by his attending physician.

Clark said investigation is still going on to prove if there was a foul play or not since there was no indication of the cause of the sudden death of the Army officer.

Meanwhile, police reported the arrest of five persons who were caught in the act of playing “sakla” in Tarlac.

Police reports said arrested were Beth Ramos and Doming Miranda, both of Dapdap- Bamban, Tarlac.

The two were nabbed by elements of Bamban police led by SPO3 Nicolas Mallari when he and his men conducted operation against illegal gambling at Barangay dela Cruz, Dap-dap, Bamban.

Confiscated from the suspects were one set of game cards, one piece of card board and cash bets amounting to P452.

In follow up operations, the said team also conducted anti-illegal gambling operations at Sitio Maninang, Barangay San Nicolas, also in the town that resulted in the arrest of Jerry Tanul of Sta Rita, Capas, Tarlac; Alvin Suba and Jose Daet, both residents of San Jose, Concepcion, Tarlac.

Confiscated from them were a game card board and cash bets amounting to P360.