9 soldiers injured in Samar encounter

TACLOBAN CITY, Leyte – Nine soldiers were wounded in an encounter with suspected New People’s Army rebels in a remote area of Barangay Bay-ang, San Jorge, Samar yesterday.

A report from Lt. Col. Rizaldo Laurena, commanding officer of the Army 63rd Infantry (Innovator) Battalion based in San Jorge said his troops were on their way to Barangay Bay-ang at around 6:50 a.m. when they chanced upon a group of fully armed men.

A brief firefight ensued and an improvised explosive device detonated.

Nine soldiers were wounded from the IED shrapnels. An undetermined number of casualties from the NPA was reported.