The unit officers where rotated in the same manner and on that day it was my turn to be in camp. For RSAF personnel inside camp, the Battalion has some physical fitness activities in the afternoon that starts off by having a formation and accounting of men. We always have it in the open basketball court fronting the Battalion headquarters and it's where most formations were held. It's a cemented area on one end of a big parade ground.

Not far on the opposite end of the grounds (across the basketball court) is where the Air Force helicopters were on stand-by too for operational support. Surrounding the parade ground area were the RSAF 4 HQs and barracks, other Regional Command 4 (RECOM) HQs and office buildings, Southern Luzon Command (SOLCOM) HQs, officers' quarters and somewhere to the back were mostly houses and families of soldiers. There were some big trees along one side of the grounds near the barracks area.

I came to the playing court in athletic attire early that afternoon and joined some soldiers lazily warming up waiting for others to arrive. Some were shooting basketball and others were doing some stretching. At that time the company jeep pulled in near the Battalion HQs and later the Battalion First Sergeant stepped down. He started walking towards the court. When I saw him I felt there was something he needs to tell me so I started to walk towards him too. We met by the court side. He was just starting to tell me something when I heard some commotion from behind. When I turned my head I saw one of our men in full battle gear hurriedly going to our direction with his issued M16 rifle pointed at us. I figured he came from the barracks and as others changed to athletic uniform he changed to full combat gear.

Other soldiers inside the barracks did not find anything wrong out from the ordinary as it was also a time for a few to change to fatigue uniform to prepare and take their post as guards. He was evidently disturbed and was shouting some words to the First Sergeant (P_!@$#$ mo! Sip-sip ka sa opisyal!) and some cursing words to that effect. I was stunned but the best I could do then was to calm the situation.

I slowly told the guy to take it easy and not to point his firearm at us but it did not do any good. He was just a few feet away from us and at that point and I can see that very angry, sometimes confused look in his eyes. He continued shouting and threatened to pull the trigger at anyone who makes a wrong move. I surreptitiously glanced at his M16 and saw the safety switch was pointing to 'auto' (His M16 was also equipped with a grenade launcher).

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He continued shouting words that I tried very hard to understand but can't seem to make sense out of it. The First Sergeant was told to lay down his sidearm (a shiny Cal45 pistol) for which he carefully did. Even the other men playing ball behind us were stunned. One of them is the guy's best friend who was also telling the soldier to calm down. He said words of assurances to his friend and while doing so, slowly made a few steps towards the soldier when all of a sudden he was fired upon.

There was a very short pause then the automatic firing continued. I remember everybody was running for the trees as it was the closest solid cover. I guess I was in the process of making a move when I was hit. I was hit in the left side of my body from the burst of automatic firing. Everything happened so fast. Initially, I thought it's just one of our soldiers, out of panic, kicked me at the back as he was trying to run.

I was immediately thrown to the ground. Half my body is still in the cemented area and my head fell on the grassy part. I tried to get up but can't. I saw two other bodies lying beside me.... the First Sergeant now motionless and the soldier's best friend (also a soldier) moaning for help. Both were hit in the chest area. It was the hardest moment of that ordeal for me, mainly because I cannot do anything to get out of that situation and it was getting worst as time goes by. Soldiers heading for the barracks to get their gears were caught behind the trees. I then realized that I've been badly hurt and time is running out.

There were so many things going on in my mind but I cannot do anything. Blood was oozing out of my body and pain was starting to take over. The soldier was still walking back and forth near where we were lying. He was still discharging his rifle all around and was only interrupted by quick magazine changes and rounds fired from his grenade launcher. I thought if I moved too much (like apply pressure to my wound or attempt to crawl), it'll just get his attention and I'll be finished off for good. I was also thinking of stretching for the Cal 45 pistol but I cannot move even for an inch.

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I turned my head to the other side and saw the helicopter crews and pilots hurriedly rolling the drums of fuel out of danger. Just one grenade hit on one of those will ignite all the drums and eventually the choppers. I saw some soldiers seeking cover behind some trees wanting to help us. They're helpless too and the best they could do is run during ammo reload. I saw another soldier behind one of the trees who was able to make a run for the Cal 45 near the First Sergeant's body. I saw that man discharged some rounds but eventually took cover. I can hear the moaning sound beside me fading and everything around me seemed to be turning in a slow spin.

In between all of these were sounds of auto gunfire and grenades exploding around me, voices from afar of women and children shouting in fear. All I could do was pray and did I pray real hard. After a while, I heard the sound of heavy machinery rolling in. A tank from the SOLCOM HQ came to the rescue by getting into the parade ground and positioned itself to cover us. The soldiers behind the trees took the chance to get us out of the zone. They just moved as swiftly as fast as they could, grabbed whatever they could hold on us and pulled us out to a waiting mini cruiser jeep. When the soldier on amuck felt that he was now over powered he retreated to the homes of soldiers and hid in one of the houses. I was told that there were children there whom he took hostage later.

I was given first aid treatment at the Quezon Provincial Hospital but have to be rushed to Manila for immediate operation. The two others were pronounced DOA at the hospital ER. I was immediately airlifted to AFP Medical Center (V.Luna). I can only remember hearing the activities going on around me. My sights were fading fast as time goes by and when we were airborne everything seems to be turning dark and hazy. I remember feeling very, very cold at one point. I do not remember anything after the chopper landed.

The following day I awoke at the ICU and learned that I was hit once on my left lumbar area with no exit wound. My left kidney was severed and has to be taken out. The doctors also have to remove one-third of my right kidney too for it was partly damaged. Thank God, the remaining kidney functions to serve my body well. I suffered permanent injuries to my spine at the lumbar area (L1) from a direct bullet hit. Since then I'm permanently in a wheelchair and I guess I have adjusted well to it (complete paraplegia).

It was not an easy road to recovery and until now I still suffer some severe back pains, which is normally associated to spinal cord injuries. Even the simplest thing of turning in bed from one side to another has to be re-learned. I permanently lost the use of my lower extremities but through rehab, I developed the strength of my upper body. I now use a manual wheelchair for mobility and it'll be a part of me for the rest of my life. I am very grateful to a lot of people and of course to our good Lord for giving me this second chance in life.

There's no easy answer to all of these. The soldier snapped and I do not why. I later learned that the soldier would not give in to negotiations, which dragged until late at night. Those in-charged were left with no other option but for snipers to shoot him down (he held some civilian hostage when cornered). I also found out that the First Sergeant's issued Cal. 45 pistol was reported missing after the incident. It only surfaced after I told them that I saw who picked it up.

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My girlfriend then stood by my side through thick and thin especially throughout my confinement at the V. Luna Medical Center in Quezon City. She's a nurse and her name is Mayvelyn "May" Rocamora of Tiaong, Quezon. I met her during my assignment at Camp Nakar (Quezon Province) and we've been dating for a few months before my accident. If there's a hero or a fighter in this story then it must be her. Having been forced to live an entirely new way of life after that unfortunate incident was not easy. But she has an unending supply of support, comfort, joy and love which made it easy for me. She is the "wind beneath my wings". She is now my wife (we were married four years after my accident). She currently works at the Beth Israel Medical Center of New York City.