PAGADIAN CITY – The deputy commander of the Philippine Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade drowned while scuba diving off Misamis Oriental’s Initao town, reports said.
It said the body of Col. Nolie Leal Anquillano was recovered
hours later after he went missing on Saturday. Anquillano was rushed to
hospital, but doctors declared him dead.
The 54-year old Anquillano was with fellow divers when the
tragic accident occurred.
The Philippine Army’s 1st Infantry
Division has not released details of the accident. The Manila Times phoned the
Public Affairs Office to get a report of the accident, but a soldier, who did
not identify himself, said: “Niluluto pa (ang press statement) and then hanged
the phone.
The military’s Western Mindanao Command also has
not released any official report about the tragedy.
The provincial government of Lanao del Sur confirmed the
death of Anquillano, whose headquarters are in the capital city of Marawi.
“We
at the Provincial Government of Lanao del Sur would like to extend our
condolences to the family of 103rd Deputy Brigade Commander, Col. Nolie
Anquillano, PA. Col. Nolie has been a pro-active partner of the PLGU-LDS to
bring peace and development in the province of Lanao del Sur. He shall be
missed. Indeed, to God we belong, and to Him we shall return,” it said in a
statement.
Anquillano was
the second senior army officer under the 1st Infantry Division who
died while scuba diving.
In June 2013, Brig.
Gen. Daniel Lucero, a decorated army commander and a combat veteran in
Mindanao, died after his diving gear malfunctioned off the coast of Zamboanga
del Sur province.
Lucero, who
belonged to the Philippine Military Academy Class 1983, was also 54 years old
when he drowned and also served as the commander of the 103rd Infantry Brigade.
(Mindanao Examiner)
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