AFP probes death of junior Navy officer

The military has yet to conclude that Lt. Marvin Mariano, a Navy junior officer, committed suicide pending the result of the ongoing investigation despite the existence of a supposed suicide letter. “We cannot confirm that unless we see the (investigation) report," said Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos. “The cause of the death is still under investigation. That will be resolved once the full report of the investigation comes out." The suicide letter, a copy of which was leaked to the media by a source within the military, was supposedly found near Mariano’s body inside his room at the Bachelor’s Officers Quarters in Camp Aguinaldo. “This is my choice," read the one-page handwritten note. “To my family, I love you all very much."

Prior to his death, Mariano, 35, was detailed at the Communication, Electronics, and Information System Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). His body, clad in civilian clothes, was found Monday night. Burgos said AFP chief Gen. Delfin Bangit has already been informed of Mariano’s death has condoled with his family. “He wants to expedite the investigation so that we can finally determine it (cause of death) on the side of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Burgos said of Bangit. Navy spokesman Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo described Mariano as a seasoned sailor and communications officer. He said Mariano had been in the service for over 11 years, six of which he spent aboard a ship. Arevalo said acting Navy chief Rear Admiral Danilo Cortez is hoping for a “quick resolution of the case" even as he said that the Navy is acceding to the request of the Mariano family to silently mourn the officer’s death. “The Navy will help in any way it could so as to prevent any further speculations surrounding his death even as we extend our condolences to Lt. Mariano's family," he said. Mariano’s death was reminiscent of Ensign Phillip Andrew Pestaño’s, who was found dead inside his quarters aboard a warship in September 1995. The Navy said Pestaño committed suicide but others believed he was murdered. - KBK, GMANews.TV