Marine Sergeant Seriously Injured in Accidental Shooting by Subordinate

COTABATO CITY, Philippines — A sergeant in the Navy’s 6th Marine Battalion was seriously injured after being accidentally shot by a subordinate while inside their unit’s command center in Barangay Rosary Heights 9 here on Wednesday, September 2. According to separate reports from the Cotabato City Police Office and the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region released on Thursday, the victim was identified as Sgt. Gerald Estralla Ejemplar, who is now confined in a hospital. Police investigators from Cotabato City Police Precinct 2 and barangay officials told reporters separately that Ejemplar’s companion, Corporal Noe Felizario Mama, Jr., was fixing his belongings inside their sleeping quarter. Subsequently, he picked up his service MFR 56 rifle and, while loading its chamber with a bullet, accidentally squeezed its trigger. The bullet, fired unintentionally, pierced through the thin wall of his room, made only of semi-permanent materials, and hit the left upper torso of Ejemplar, who was in the next makeshift cubicle. Ejemplar was immediately brought by his companions to the Cotabato Regional Medical Center, which is not too far from their battalion command post in Barangay Rosary Heights 9, for treatment. This incident highlights potential issues with safety protocols and discipline within the Philippine military, particularly among units engaged in critical roles such as maintaining peace and counter-terrorism operations. For units deployed in conflict-affected or unstable regions, such accidental incidents could potentially impact morale.