3 soldiers slain in NPA encounters in Pantukan
THREE soldiers were killed and three others wounded in a series of clashes with New People’s Army at Sitio Sapang Tin-aw, Barangay Tibagon, Pantukan, Compostela Valley on Wednesday.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of 10TH Infantry Division, said troops of 46th Infantry Battalion were conducting combat operations when they encountered around 60 rebels under the Pulang Bagani Command 3 of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee around 1 p.m.
The exchange of fire lasted for 30 minutes before the rebels scampered to different directions.
While the soldiers were clearing at the rebels’ position, a blast from a landmine exploded killing 1Lt. Ralph Pantonial and Pfc. Eulezys Bantulo and wounding Pfc. Jestoni Sabido and Cpl. Melvin Velunta.
At around 6 p.m. soldiers again clashed with around 10 NPAs who ambushed them at Sitio Biasong, Barangay Napnapan, Pantukan. One soldier, identified as Pfc. Moreno, was killed.
After a five-minute firefight, the rebels withdrew going north and burned two houses at Purok 7 of the same hamlet.
An armored vehicle carrying a medical team motored to the area to extricate the wounded soldiers but got ripped by a landmine. Cpl. Herbert Aquino was wounded in the incident.
Batchar said the series of clashes was proof that a large presence of NPA rebels is still operating in Pantukan.
“This conclusion was made after a series of unfounded allegations of human rights violations committed in Pantukan were made by Karapatan-SMR against 46IB last week and early this week,” Batchar said.
He claimed the the allegations of abuse perpetrated by paramilitary groups were meant to distract the soldiers from bringing peace and development to the municipality.
“As a result, the 46IB tried to look for these armed groups to drive them away from populated areas to protect and secure the people,” he added.
Col. Alberto Macairog, commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade, said they will continue their military offensives against the NPA, but their primary goal of bringing basic services to far-flung communities won’t be forgotten.
“The encounters showed the bravery of 1Lt Pantonial, Pfc Bantulo and Pfc Moreno, who are heroes by making the ultimate sacrifice for the people of Compostela Valley Province,” he added.
Gen. Rafael Valencia, 10thID commander, expressed his grief over the death of the soldiers.
“The 10ID shall remain to be a strong military organization and will be relentless in our campaign against the NPAs,” Valencia said.
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