Foul play in military lawyer's death? PNP says AFP asked to keep probe private

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday refused to divulge information if there was foul play in the death of a military lawyer who was found lifeless in his quarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City over the weekend.

At a press briefing, PNP spokesperson Police Brigadier General Jean Fajardo said the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) requested to keep the investigation private.

“As to the nature and progress of the investigation, the AFP requested that we just keep it under wraps hanggat ongoing pa po yung investigation [until the investigation is ongoing],” she said.

“Let us wait for the culmination and completion ng investigation po with respect to the death ng isang senior officer ng AFP counterpart. Out of respect to our counterparts who requested to conduct the investigation in private, but we are in constant communication with them,” she added.

Fajardo said the family of the military personnel, identified as Colonel Rolando C. Escalona Jr. of the Judge Advocate General’s Service (JAGS), also asked for privacy.

Updates on the case will be forwarded to concerned authorities and the family, Fajardo said.

Escalona sustained one gunshot wound and the firearm found in the scene matched to his injury, according to Fajardo.

The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) conducted an autopsy on Escalona and the report will be released this week, Fajardo added.

Escalona's body was found in his quarters at Camp Aguinaldo early Friday morning, the AFP said on Sunday.

“The AFP, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and Scene of the Crime Operatives, is currently conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the AFP said.

The AFP expressed commitment to a complete and impartial investigation into the incident.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of Colonel Escalona during this difficult time,” it said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News