ZAMBOANGA CITY (Zamboanga City / 07 Jun) A man who allegedly tried to grab the automatic rifle of a government soldier was shot dead during a scuffle near a military base in Zamboanga City in the southern Philippines, police said Wednesday.
Officials said Unggal Estiya, a native of Jolo island, was shot Tuesday near the former headquarters of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), now used as a command base of the Philippine Marines, in the village of Cabatangan.
Edwina Francisco, the villager leader, said soldiers arrested the man after he tried to enter one of the buildings inside the Cabatangan Complex, but he allegedly grabbed the weapon of one the soldier during interrogation, forcing a sentinel to shoot him.
"He was arrested after he tried to enter one of the buildings. The soldiers say the man tried to grab the weapon and was shot during a scuffle," she said.
Francisco did not say if the victim was a member of the MNLF or not.
Officials did not say why the man was able to sneak inside the supposedly tightly guarded Cabatangan Complex, scene of a bloody fighting between troops and rebels in 2002 during a failed rebellion by followers of former MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari.
Security officials also refused to give a statement about the killing. The man was unarmed at the time of the shooting and it was unknown if he had any relatives in Zamboanga City or whether they would file criminal charges against the soldiers. Reporters complained that they were prevented by soldiers to enter the Cabatangan Complex and see the body.
Officials said Unggal Estiya, a native of Jolo island, was shot Tuesday near the former headquarters of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), now used as a command base of the Philippine Marines, in the village of Cabatangan.
Edwina Francisco, the villager leader, said soldiers arrested the man after he tried to enter one of the buildings inside the Cabatangan Complex, but he allegedly grabbed the weapon of one the soldier during interrogation, forcing a sentinel to shoot him.
"He was arrested after he tried to enter one of the buildings. The soldiers say the man tried to grab the weapon and was shot during a scuffle," she said.
Francisco did not say if the victim was a member of the MNLF or not.
Officials did not say why the man was able to sneak inside the supposedly tightly guarded Cabatangan Complex, scene of a bloody fighting between troops and rebels in 2002 during a failed rebellion by followers of former MNLF chieftain Nur Misuari.
Security officials also refused to give a statement about the killing. The man was unarmed at the time of the shooting and it was unknown if he had any relatives in Zamboanga City or whether they would file criminal charges against the soldiers. Reporters complained that they were prevented by soldiers to enter the Cabatangan Complex and see the body.
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