THE SOLDIER who opened fire at his colleagues inside their barracks at the Philippine Military Academy died from a self-inflicted injury, police said.

Airman 2nd Class Christopher Lim shot himself after shooting two officers on Tuesday.

Based on the initial report of the Baguio City Police, Lim barged inside the PMA barracks carrying an M16 rifle ‪at 4:30 p.m.‬ He then shot Staff Sergeants Joefrey Turqueza and Vivencio Raton whom he thought were gossiping about him.

“Lumalabas na nakakarating sa kanya na may tsismis na kumakalat tungkol sa kanya at ang naiisip daw niya, tuwing may nag-uusap sa paligid ay siya ang pinag-uusapan,” BCPO Director Allen Rae Co said.

Although injured, Raton was able to hold down Lim. Turqueza was killed on the spot.

Raton and Lim were rushed to Fort del Pilar Station Hospital and were later transferred to the Baguio General Hospital for further treatment.

However, the PMA announced Lim’s death on September 30 after he shot himself in the jaw.

“Our personnel had shot himself and passed away ‪at 2:24 p.m.‬,” Tindog confirmed in an interview.

Meanwhile, the PMA vowed to provide assistance to those involved in the incident.

“The Academy extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family of Air Force SSgt. Jeofrey Turqueza and assures them that all necessary support will be accorded to them,” PMA Spokesperson Cherryl Tindog said.

“The Academy will likewise extend all the necessary support to them to ensure that they will both surpass this difficult time,” Tindog added.

Meanwhile, the academy stressed its commitment to support the mental health of soldiers.

“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. Our soldiers, like any other person, may have been silently struggling with such ordeal,” Tindog said.

“In coordination with other stakeholders, the Academy is and will continue to provide psycho-social intervention to identify and help its personnel who may have mental health problems, similar to what has been done for our cadets,” she added.

Tindog stressed that the incident was an ‘isolated case’.

“The PMA leadership 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,” she said.