Philippines: 7 dead in New People’s Army (NPA) rebels attack
Seven people were killed when communist insurgents attacked a rural army outpost in the southern Philippines, the military said on Saturday.
Six rebels and a progovernment militiaman were killed while another militiaman was wounded during the five-hour gun battle on Friday, said the military, adding that the attack only ended after they deployed helicopter gun ships.
Around 60 fighters of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) attacked the outpost on the southern island of Mindanao in an effort to capture the base, said military spokesperson Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala.
“Their objective was to overrun the detachment and get the firearms and ammunition for themselves,” Zagala told Agence France-Presse.