KIDAPAWAN CITY – Security forces clashed with bandits on Thursday in the restive province of Maguindanao in southern Philippines that left 2 people dead, officials said.
Officials said a member of a police volunteer group and a bandit were both killed in the fighting in the village of Blensong in the town of Upi. The fighting erupted after more than a dozen armed bandits entered the village which were being guarded by soldiers and policemen.
The bandits were being blamed for the series of cattle rustling and extortion in the town. The clash lasted nearly two hours and the running gun battle only stopped after the gunmen broke into smaller groups and fled.
Officials have identified the slain police volunteer as Gilbert Golde, 45.
In Davao del Sur’s Magsaysay town, security forces also killed two New People’s Army rebels in a firefight Wednesday in Upper Bala village. Government troops ran into a group of communist rebels and fighting erupted.
There was no report of military casualties and soldiers recovered the bodies of the slain rebels who had been identified as Boboy Alcantara and Jojo Sarigumba and their automatic rifles. (Rhoderick Beñez)
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