BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — (UPDATE – 1:52 p.m.) At least two soldiers were wounded in ongoing clashes with communist rebels in southern Negros Occidental Thursday morning, December 7, authorities said.
Meanwhile, the military helicopter that ferried the injured troops to a hospital had to make an emergency landing in Hinigaran town after developing trouble.
Col. Eliezer Lozañes, commander of the 303rd Infantry Brigade, told media the helicopter had rushed he wounded soldiers to Kabankalan City and was on its way back to Bacolod City to refuel when the incident happened.
An advisory from Police Regional Office 6 said the first clash broke out around 6:30 a.m. in Sitio Cunalom, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City when a platoon of the Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion on combat operations ran into an unknown number of rebels.
Sergeant Jomar Dolorfino was wounded in this encounter.
A 9:15 a.m., the same unit again clashed with rebels, leaving Private Jelord Para-onda wounded.
