Fr. Jose D. Ante, 79, dies in car accident in Davao Sur

COTABATO CITY -– A missionary priest who
has been serving war-torn Sulu for the past few years and once served as Oblates
of Mary Immaculate provincial superior, died in a vehicular accident in the
national highway in Matanao, Davao del Sur Friday, police said.

Fr. Jose Ante of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate died
expired at the Sinawilan Medical Clinic in Barangay Sinawingan, Matanao, Davao
del Sur at 9:30 a.m, according to Police Officer 2 Arturo Papas, traffic
investigator of Matanao PNP.

Papas told and//www.ndbcnews.com.ph/ www.ndbcnews.com.ph
that Fr. Ante was driving his blue Isuzu Crosswind (LGG-776) heading toward Davao City when
the front right tire of the vehicle exploded as he was negotiating a downward
curve in Kilometer 70, national highway, Barangay Singawilan.

After the explosion, his vehicle swerved to left
and to right then slammed on an on-coming meat van,” Papas said.

The Isuzu Elf Chiller meat van (GTY-591) was owned by Giovanni T. Zamora of Bansalan, Davao del Sur and was driven by Jonathan G. Amante, 41 of Bansalan, Davao del Sur.The accident site was fronting a Matanao
Police detachment in Kilometer 70. Police officers were the first responders andrushed the priest to Sinawilan Medical
Clinic, about 200 meters away. But attending physicians declared him dead on
arrival due to serious head injuries, the traffic officer said.

Jose Ante was born on July 13, 1936. He finished his
Philosophy at the San Jose Seminary and proceeded to Rome to obtain his
Licentiate in Sacred Theology. He was ordained priest in 1964. He was Dean of
Notre Dame of Jolo College in 1964. He obtained his Master's Degree in
Education from the University of Santo Tomas in 1969.

In 1976, he became the first Filipino OMI
Provincial, serving until 1981. In 1982, he became the third President of Notre
Dame University. He also was President of NDEA (Notre Dame Educational
Association) from 1982 to 1988.

His other assignments included being President of
the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines, Board Member of PAASCU
(Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities), and
Board Member of the Fund for Assistance to Private Schools. He was formerly
Priest at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cathedral in Jolo and the Social Action
Director of the Vicariate of Jolo.

Since January this year,he was the Archives in-charge at the OMI
Provincial House, Cotabato District. (Edwin O. Fernandez)