A SOLDIER belonging to the 58th Infantry Battalion was hurt in an encounter with New People's Army (NPA) in Misamis Oriental province on Tuesday, June 25.
Captain Leoden Bajado, civil military operations officer of the 58th Infantry Battalion (58IB), said a 15-minute encounter ensued in Sitio Pugahan, barangay Bunal, Salay town, Misamis Oriental, resulting to bullet injury.
Bajado, however, belied reports from the NPA that they "harassed" the soldiers, and killed one of them.
Bajado said the military troops were the ones who conducted an operatiom in the area, acting upon reports of residents on the presence of the NPA.
"Walay kamatuoran sila ang nag-atake. Wala na kamatuoran nga naay patay," Bajado said.
He said the soldier injured was only grazed by a bullet.
Bajado dismissed the report as NPA propaganda, which he said is meant to deceive the mass.