MANILA -- Three government soldiers were injured in an encounter with the New People's Army rebels in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro on Thursday, the military said.
Colonel Generoso Bolina, spokesman of the military's Southern Luzon Command (Solcom), said soldiers from the 76th Infantry Battalion were on patrol at the vicinity of Lagnas in Batasan village when they encountered the rebels around 3:15 p.m.
Bolina said the soldiers were deployed to the area after they received a complaint from the community about the extortion and harassment activities of the communist rebels.
"They were fired upon while approaching the area," he said of the soldiers.
He named the injured soldiers as Private First Class (Pfc) Ariel Juagpao, Pfc. Merdilito Sagmayao and Pfc. Aldrin Jamiro. The three were airlifted to the AFP Medical Center in Quezon City for treatment.
Bolina said Solcom commander Ma. Gen. Caesa Ronnie Ordoyo vowed that the "wounded troops will be taken care of and there will be no let up in combat operations to ensure the safety of the candidates (running in the coming elections)." (VR/Sunnex)