Soldier wounded while pacifying fight

CEBU, Philippines – A member of the Philippine Army based in Aloguinsan sustained a wound on his right arm after he intervened in a commotion in Barangay Bonbon in the western town of Aloguinsan last Thursday afternoon.

Private First Class Rio Lasap, 29, sustained the wound when he defended himself when he was attacked by one Enrique Alendajao during a feast in Barangay Bonbon.

Investigation revealed that the commotion started when a certain Diyenlo Simefranca asked Alendajao jokingly where the latter hid during a raid at his village. Alenda-jao reportedly attempted to stab Simefranca, but Lasap together with one Private First Class Jovani Tumambing passed by the area and tried to pacify.

Lasap and Tumambing identified themselves as members of the Philippine Army and Lasap even fired a warning shot, but Alendajao refused to calm down. Instead, the suspect attacked Lasap with a 10-inch knife and hit the soldier on the right arm.

Lasap, in turn, shot Alendajao on his right leg to stop him from attacking again.

PO1 Sany Solomon of the Aloguinsan Police also happened to pass by and confiscated the weapon from Alendajao.

Lasap was brought to the Pinamungajan District Hospital while Alendajao was rushed to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City. (FREEMAN)