3 soldiers wounded in Kalinga clash

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Three Army soldiers were wounded after they clashed with armed men in Pinukpuk, Kalinga, on Wednesday, police said.

Reports reaching the Cordillera police said soldiers belonging to a platoon of the Army’s 17th Infantry Battalion were attacked by armed men in Sitio Sidog in Barangay (village) Baay in Pinukpuk while they were on their way to Allaguia village at 3 a.m.

Police identified the wounded soldiers only as Sergeant Cabiliza and Privates First Class Lancay and Viray.

Reports said the soldiers were in the village searching for a 15-year-old boy, who was abducted by armed men on Sunday in Tabuk City.

Noel Umang was taken from his house in Barangay Bagumbayan in Tabuk at 1 a.m. Sunday by a group of armed men, police said.

Witnesses told police that the men were communist rebels who suspected Umang as a government informant. The group fled to the mountains of Pinukpuk, police said.