Aquino retains shooting title

President Benigno Aquino III. INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines—The most powerful man in the land is still also one of its best shots.

President Aquino again emerged victorious in a shootfest organized by the Philippine Army over the weekend, successfully defending his title in the category that he ruled last year.

Aquino won the “man versus man,” or individual category, in the “Game of the Generals: The Army Team Challenge” held at the Fort Bonifacio shooting range in Taguig City on Saturday.

He took the championship trophy for a second year by beating Junny Guadalupe, a senior official at the Bureau of Customs, in the three-round title match.

The team of outgoing Army chief Lt. Gen. Noel Coballes, who organized the competition, also took a championship trophy and five gold medals.

“I am proud of our generals for showing their best in this competition, at the same time enjoying fellowship a few days before I humbly bow out of the military service,” Coballes said in a statement.

An Army officer, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, said the President “was very fast and his accuracy in hitting the target was really great.”

He said it only took around 25 seconds for the President to hit all the 10 targets laid out on four levels of the shooting range using a high-capacity 40-cal. pistol.

“Since he’s the President, he has an unlimited supply of bullets to use for practice,” the source quipped.

The source said Guadalupe won the first round but Aquino took the second and third rounds to bag his second title, besting 15 other individuals who joined the individual open category.—Marlon Ramos

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