WAYLAID. The windshield of the Philippine Army truck, which was shot during an ambush by the communist rebels in Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic in Antique province on Friday (July 3, 2020). Lt. Col. Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion, said an Army personnel was also slightly injured. (Photo courtesy of PA 61st IB)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – An anti-personnel landmine (APC) exploded and a shot was fired as two military vehicles were ambushed by suspected members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) - New People’s Army (NPA) Terrorists (CNTs) in Barangay Igbucagay, Hamtic town early Friday.
“Our military men on board the vehicles were on their way to Barangay Tiolas, San Joaquin to assist in the government quarantine control point when an anti-personnel mine exploded 1.5 km. away from the border of Antique and Iloilo,” Lt. Col. Joel Benedict G. Batara, battalion commander of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) under the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said in an interview.
The ambush area is near the “Welcome to Antique” marker in Hamtic.
Batara also said Private First Class Jose Joel DJ. Peras Jr., who was aboard the first vehicle, was slightly wounded on his left eyebrow. “The Army personnel was immediately treated at the Miagao clinic as an outpatient,” he said.
The windshield of the military vehicle was also shot, Batara said, adding that the soldiers were able to recover an anti-personnel mine detonator and electric wires used by the CNTs.
The soldiers, led by 2Lt. Mark Joel T. Arjinal during the ambush, saw two to three rebels who could have shot the military vehicle, thus causing the damage on the windshield.
Arjinal said the ambush could also be a move on the part of the CNTs to instill fear among the people but he assured that the military is on top of the situation.
Commuters, especially those traveling at night, have been advised to temporarily take the coastal road from Anini-y, Antique to San Joaquin, Iloilo where residents are living along the road.
The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
