Police checking neuropsychiatric background of suspect in Camp Evangelista shooting

Police are now looking into the neuropsychiatric background of the soldier who killed four of his fellow servicemen in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City over the weekend, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said Monday.

At a press conference, Azurin said they want to determine what caused stress to the suspect and how he was managing it prior to the shooting incident on Saturday which killed five soldiers, including himself.

“Ang tinitignan ngayon ang background ng private, ang kanyang stress…how to handle stress. Tinitignan ‘yung kanyang neuro kasi nga…private, pinagbabaril, ang mga kasamahan niya. So, there must be something na baka may problema ‘yung tao na hindi niya ma-handle,” Azurin said.

(What we’re looking at now is the private’s background in stress, on how he was handling stress. We’re looking at his neuro because he was a private, but he suddenly shot his colleagues. There must be something he was going through which he could not handle.)

The soldier attacked and opened fire on his fellow servicemen who were asleep in their room at the Service Center Battalion Headquarters in Camp Evangelista using an M16 rifle, according to the Philippine Army 4th Infantry Division.

Azurin said that aside from personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines, he will also call for a neuropsychological evaluation of those in the PNP.

He said what usually causes stress among PNP personnel are relationships, debts, and paying for the tuition of their children.

“Ang guidance ko sa ating mga police is, hindi lang i-account natin ‘yung mga tao natin, tanungin din natin, ‘Oh kamusta kayo ngayong umaga na ‘to o araw na ‘to? May problema ba kayo? May nararamdaman ba kayo?’ Kasi hindi natin alam ano ‘yung dala-dala nila everyday pagpasok sa office,” Azurin said.

(My guidance to the police is not just to account for your men, ask them how they are doing that day and if they have problems. We don't know what baggages they bring to the office everyday.)

“As head of office, dapat automatic na tinatanong mo, ‘How are you today? Do you feel good?’ Kung may problema ka, kausapin mo ang supervisor,” he added.

(As head of office, you should automatically ask, 'How are you today? Do you feel good?' If you have a problem, talk to the supervisor.)

Philippine Army spokesperson Xerxes Trinidad said Sunday they will also look into possible gaps in its recruitment and training processes to avoid a repeat of the incident. A Board of Inquiry would conduct an internal probe to determine what triggered the shooting.—AOL, GMA Integrated News