MANILA, Philippines – Army officials say a government militiaman went into a violent rage in the southern Philippines, killing six of his colleagues before he was fatally shot by pursuing troops.
Maj. Gen Romeo Lustestica said Olegario Vocal Jr. opened fire with his M-14 rifle Sunday night for still-unknown reasons, killing five militiamen watching television in their detachment in Zamboanga Sibugay's Ipil township. He twice shot at his father, also a militiaman, but missed.
Pursuing troops caught up with Vocal early Monday near the detachment. He shot it out with them, wounding another militiaman who later died in hospital. Vocal was killed in the shootout.
Lustestica said it was not clear what prompted the attack, but said Vocal's family has a history of mental illness.
