4 killed in Army-NPA clash in Compostela Valley

Four people — including two government militiamen, a soldier and a civilian — were killed when communist rebels attacked a military detachment in the southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley Tuesday morning. Col. Leopoldo Galon, spokesman for the Armed Forces' Eastern Mindanao Command, said around 9:30 a.m., an undetermined number of New People's Army rebels swooped down on the Tagbalaobao Patrol Base in Barangay Tagnanan in Mabini town. Galon refused to reveal the identities of the government fatalities, including that of the civilian. Aside from the four fatalities, another Cafgu member was also wounded in the attack. Military reinforcements have already been deployed to go after the attackers, he said. Galon said the attackers wore camouflage uniforms to "deceive" government troops. "Hindi naman nawawala sa kanila iyong ganoong taktika eh… Usual iyan eh, naka-uniporme talaga sila. Madi-distinguish mo lang sa kanila iyong boots nila, iyong rain boots," he said. The attack happened ahead of a scheduled visit of Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. to the nearby headquarters of the 69th Infantry Battalion in Barangay Panabo in Davao del Norte, located west of Mabini town. "Ang schedule niya after, kung hindi na-disrupt... pupunta iyon ng headquarters ng 69th IB sa may Panabo. Iyon iyonng nabalitaan na pinaputukan iyong headquarters mismo ng NPA, headquarters ng battalion mismo," said Galon. — with Mark Merueñas/RSJ, GMA News