Five cops, 1 NPA rebel killed in ambush in N Philippines

Five policemen and a New People's Army rebel were killed and two other policemen were injured when they clashed with the leftist insurgents in Sorsogon, northern Philippines on Monday afternoon, a military official said.

Philippine Armed Forces' Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali told reporters the fatalities and the wounded were recovered by responding troops from the Army's 49th Infantry Battalion.

He said the operatives of a police mobile group were ambushed by the undetermined number of rebels around 1:30 p.m. at the vicinity of Antipolo village in Bulan town.

After learning the information, Detabali said government troops were sent out to the area and found the five slain police personnel along with two other policemen injured.

Also found in the area were four M16 rifles, apparently owned by the policemen, a patrol car which he said was damaged by an improvised explosive device and four unexploded improvised bombs.

Detabali said the troops also recovered at the area a body of a suspected rebel who was believed killed in the firefight.

He said the wounded policemen were brought to the Bulan hospital for treatment.

Sorsogon is a known bailiwick area of the NPA, which President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wanted defeated on or before her term ends in June next year. Latest military estimates placed the NPA's strength at more than 4,000.

Source: Xinhua