CEBU CITY (Updated 3:15 p.m.) -- Sixteen members of the Philippine National Police-Cebu Regional Mobile Group (RMG) were hit by lightning Tuesday noon while having their lunch at an open field, radio reports said.

The victims were on training in Barangay Poblacion, Sibonga town when the incident happened.

Sibonga is 50 kilometers south of this city.

Radio dyAB reported that the policemen were having their lunch when heavy rains suddenly poured, followed by a lightning.

Police Officer 2 Ederlino Bacusmo, investigator of Sibonga Police, said in a radio report that they were not able to immediately respond to the incident as the Sibonga ambulance was under repair.

He said they used the RMG patrol car to get the victims and send them to South General hospital.

The 16 policemen, who were all wounded, are now being treated at the hospital. (Sunnex)