Killed in action

From the Mindanao Times (Jan 27): Killed in action

Young army officer killed, 2 wounded in encounter

A YOUNG army officer was killed while two others were wounded in a gunfight with communist rebels in the hinterlands of Barangay Mapula, Paquibato District Thursday afternoon.

Maj. Ezra Balagtey, the spokesperson of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), identified the fallen officer as 1Lt. Jarren Jay Relota, the commanding officer of the Bravo Company of the 16th Infantry Battalion (Maglilingkod).

The two wounded soldiers, both currently recuperating in a military hospital, were not named.

On Thursday afternoon, Relota and his men went to Sitio Quimbao in Mapula after receiving reports that communist rebels were in the area.

While conducting the operation, they encountered an undetermined number of rebels at around 4 p.m. A gunfight ensued.

During the exchange of fire, the rebels detonated an improvised landmine, killing Relota and wounding two other soldiers.

Maj. Gen. Noel Clement, the commander of 10th Infantry Division who also heads the Joint Task Force Haribon, expressed grief in the death of the officer and vowed to continue pursuing peace in the area to prevent such incident that adds misery to the communities.

“We grieve the death of Lt. Relota,” Clement said. “We salute his display of the finest tradition of soldiery and gallantry in pursuing peace and protecting the people of Paquibato. We hope that by his sacrifice, we will bring peace in the area.”

The body of the slain officer now lies at St. Peter Funeral Parlor in Panacan. It will be transported to his hometown in San Jose, Antique

Relota, a 27-year-old native of Antique, was the commanding officer of the Bravo Company of the 16th IB under the 2nd Infantry Division (ID) since June 1, 2017.

He was commissioned into the regular force after finishing the Officer Candidate Course of the Officer Candidate School in May of 2013.

The only son of Joel and Celine Relota, the officer was a licensed criminologist who graduated BS Criminology at the University of Antique on April 1, 2011.

Relota was among the soldiers under the 16th IB based in Tanay, Rizal who were deployed to the city last year after Mayor Sara Duterte requested the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for additional force to combat insurgency and terroristic attack in the city.

Then AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año ordered the troopers of the 16th IB to serve as an additional force to the 1003rd IB, under the 10th Infantry Division (ID), which covers the whole area of Davao.

The 16th IB troopers arrived in the region on May 2017.

Before coming to Davao, Relota’s 16th IB was assigned at the Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) based in Zamboanga City.

At WesMinCom, Relota and his men were assigned to run after the Abu Sayyaf Group. His group also served in Surigao del Sur, running after communist rebels in the area.

In a photo post at the Facebook page of the 16th IB dated Dec. 21, 2017, Relota is seen leading his men in distributing pairs of slippers to the students of Saloy Elementary School during the Christmas Party in Brgy Saloy, Calinan District.

http://mindanaotimes.net/killed-in-action-2/