Soldier hurt in Abra clash with NPA

BAGUIO CITY — A soldier of the Philippine Army’s 24th Infantry Battalion was hurt during a clash on Monday with suspected communist rebels in Abra province, Lt. Col. Thomas Baluga, 24IB commander, said on Tuesday.

Private First Class Jeffrey Siron was struck on the right leg during the firefight in Sitio (subvillage) Nagas-asan, Ududiao village in Sallapadan town.

Siron was brought to the Abra Provincial Hospital, where he was treated for a leg fracture, according to Baluga.

He said the attending physician at the Abra hospital recommended that the soldier be transferred to a military hospital. /je