Airman who shot PAF sergeant dead has mental problem: PAF spokesperson

September 30, 2020

Airman Second Class Christopher Lim, who allegedly shot and killed an Air Force sergeant while injuring another inside the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) is suffering from a mental problem, a PMA spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"With the initial probe conducted by PMA, it has been revealed that the shooting incident is an issue of mental health problem on the side of the shooter that led to this tragedy," Maj. Cheryl Tindog said.

On Tuesday afternoon, Lim , armed with a rifle, shot Staff Sergeant Jeofrey Turqueza, who died on the spot  Staff Sergeant Vivencio Raton tried to grab the rifle from Lim, who sustained a gunshot wound,

"Our soldiers, like any other person, may have been silently struggling with such ordeal. Hence, the Academy is now more than ever,  committed to attend to the mental health not only of our cadets, but more so of every military personnel," she said.

"In coordination with other stakeholders, the Academy is and will continue to be providing psycho-social intervention to identify and help its personnel who may have mental health problems, similar to what has been done for our cadets. This is the PMA's commitment to its personnel in order for them to remain psychologically fit for any mission given them," she added.

Tindog said that in as much as the incident is an isolated case, "the PMA community is doing its very best to look into every single detail leading to the incident and to provide the necessary solutions to ensure that no similar case will happen in the future."

"The entire Philippine Military Academy community is deeply saddened with the untimely demise of one of our military personnel and with the current condition of two others who were wounded from the shooting incident," she said.

"The Academy extends its heart-felt condolonces to the bereaved family of Air Force Staff Sergeant Joefry Torqueza and  assures them that all necesarry support will be accorded to them," she added.

Tindog said Lim and Raton are still being treated at the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center.

"The Academy will likewise extend all the necessary support to them to ensure that they will both surpass this difficult time," she said.

"Moreover, the Academy assures the public that it is coordinating with its PNP counterpart for the impartial investigation and fast resolution of the case," she added. Robina Asido/DMS