THE Philippine Army has ordered a probe into last Sunday’s vehicular accident in Uson, Masbate that left eight soldiers dead and six others injured.
Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said the investigation is meant to “determine the nature and cause of the vehicular accident which has claimed the lives of the soldiers.”
Maj. Gen. Alex Luna, commander of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division (ID), said the brakes of the soldiers’ KM450 truck malfunctioned while traversing Barangay Buenasuerte. The truck later crashed into a concrete mixer parked on the side of the road.
Luna said the soldiers, from the Army’s 2nd Infantry Battalion, came from Masbate City and were on their way back to their headquarters in Milagros town when they figured in the accident.
“Initial reports state that the rear left tire exploded causing the vehicle to lose control,” said Trinidad.
“The Philippine Army has already ordered a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident,” said Armed Forces spokesman Col. Medel Aguilar.
Maj. John Paul Belleza, spokesman of the 9th ID, downplayed reports the truck was over-speeding at that time because it was passing an NPA-infested area.
Belleza said the truck was travelling at a speed of 60 kph at the time of incident, which he said is “regular” and “minimum” speed.
Asked if the area was really an NPA-infested area, Belleza said: “It’s not really infested.
There are NPAs there, there were encounters in the past there but it’s not really infested.
When you say infested, they are many NPAs.”
Trinidad said Army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. condoled with the families of the eight soldiers.
“Further, the Army chief also assured that soldiers injured will be given necessary medical care and support to their families,” added Trinidad.
Aguilar expressed the AFP’s “sincerest condolences” to the bereaved families of the soldiers.
“The AFP will provide all the necessary support to their dependents to help them get through this difficult time,” said Aguilar.
