Crossfire left guide wounded

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MANILA — Officials reported a crossfire between the military and several communist rebels which left a bird-watching tour guide wounded and scared seven foreigners in a protected mountain area in Mindanao.

According to Col. Jesse Alvarez, an Army commander in the area, the military were not aware  of the presence of the bird-watchers when the crossfire occurred.

Following 10-minute firefight, one of the four Filipino guides who were with the bird-watchers was wounded and brought to the hospital, according to Daniel Somera, an environment official.

Sumera is an environment official supervising the Mount Kitanglad protected area in Bukidnon.

Meanwhile, three Britons, three Danes and an Austrailian were also with the guides when the crossfire occurred.

“They are all safe but traumatized,” said Somera, whose office issued a permit to the foreigners for the bird-watching trip.