Three soldiers were wounded during a clash with a group communist rebels in Occidental Mindoro, the military said on Friday.
Southern Luzon Command spokesperson Generoso Bolina said Private 1st Class Ariel Juagpao, Pfc. Merdilito Sagmayao, and Pfc. Aldrin Jamiro were air lifted to V. Luna General Hospital after the firefight Thursday afternoon at Sitio Lagnas, Brgy. Batasan, San Jose, Occidental Mindoro.
Based on the report, Ltcol. Ed Peralta, commander of 76th Infantry Battalion, dispatched government troops in the area to look into complaints of extortion and harassment by New People's Army rebels.
When the soldiers were approaching the area, the rebels reportedly fired at them, the report said.
The military has yet to determine if there were casualties on the rebel side. - Dennis Carcamo