Soldier hurt in Camarines Sur clash

LEGAZPI CITY –– An Army soldier was wounded in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army rebels in Lagonoy town in Camarines Sur province on Monday afternoon.

Major Ciriaco Pacer Jr., Lagonoy police chief, identified the wounded soldier as Corporal Jerald Awa, a member of the 96th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

Pacer reported that the soldiers were on combat operation when they encountered an undetermined number of rebels in Barangay Del Carmen around 4 p.m. The firefight lasted for about 20 minutes.

Awa was taken to a hospital for treatment. He is now in stable condition, Pacer said.

LZB