Five dead as militiamen, NPA clash in Mindanao

(Update) ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – Four communist rebels and a government militiaman were killed in separate clashes Monday in Mindanao, a regional army spokesman said. Major Armand Rico said about 60 New People's Army rebels attacked a military patrol base at around 4 a.m. in the village of Kingking in Pantukan town in Compostela Valley province. Troops, from the 72nd Infantry Battalion, fought the rebel forces for three hours until they retreated, Rico said, adding, the clash left two NPA gunmen and a government militiaman dead. "Troops repelled the attacks and killed two rebels, but one of our militiamen was also slain in the fighting," he said. He said another group of rebel forces also clashed with soldiers belonging to the 60th Infantry Battalion shortly before 10 a.m. in Palma Gil village in Davao del Norte's Talaingod town. The fighting, he said, also left two NPA rebels killed and none of the military side. Two army soldiers were also killed in the town when NPA rebels ambushed a military truck transporting provisions to troops in the province. - Al Jacinto, GMANews.TV