Commander of 11 soldiers killed in Ifugao ambush sacked

MANILA, Philippines - An Army battalion commander who lost 11 of his men in an ambush by New People’s Army rebels in Tinoc, Ifugao last month was relieved from his post.

Lt. Col. Eugene Batara was sacked upon the recommendation of the military’s Board of Inquiry.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 1991, Batara, who also served as former spokesman for the Western Mindanao Command, was replaced by his mistah, Lt. Col. Emilio Pajarito Jr.

Batara was leading his men, after presiding over a company command turnover in Tinoc town last April 25 when their three-vehicle convoy was attacked by the rebels on the way back to the battalion headquarters in Kiangan town.

Batara is also likely to face administrative sanctions for his apparent lapses in ensuring the safety of his men, Col. Miguel Puyao, spokesman for the 5th Infantry Division said.