MANILA: A Philippine UN peacekeeper in the Golan Heights was wounded by shrapnel yesterday amid fighting between Syrian troops and rebel forces, the Filipino military said. “He is being treated at a shelter and is in good condition,” the army said, adding shrapnel hit him just above the right ankle. It said “wayward indirect fire” landed at about at 0545 GMT at the peacekeepers’ Camp Ziouni about 4km from the fighting. Military spokesman Brigadier-General Domingo Tutaan said about 340 Filipino peacekeepers will remain in Golan pending a government decision on the mission.
Floods displace 371 families
MANILA: Some 371 families were evacuated as the water levels rose in the Matina, Balusong and Talomo rivers in Davao City after heavy downpour on Wednesday night, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said yesterday. The families were moved as a precautionary measure around 8pm as some roads were rendered impassable. They came from villages of Maa, Matina Crossing, Matina Pangi and Talomo.
Rebels release captive in Jolo
ZAMBOANGA CITY: Suspected Abu Sayyaf gunmen freed a fishing boat master patron in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu province, reportedly after payment of ransom, officials said. Lucio Gonzales, of GMA and AMR companies, was released on Tuesday night. He took a ferry and reached home in Barangay Cawit.
Drugs worth $7,300 seized
MANILA: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has arrested three suspected drug dealers in Negros Occidental in two sting operations and seized an estimated $7,300 worth of drugs. The agency in Bacolod City nabbed Rosa Calates, Santo Niño and Brgy Handumanan.
Agencies
