MANILA, Oct 20 (NNN-PNA) – Philippine security forces killed seven suspected criminals, in a clash in southern Philippines, a military commander said, yesterday.
Lieutenant General William Gonzales, commander of the Western Mindanao Command, said, the fighting occurred shortly before 2.00 p.m. local time on Friday, in the waters of a remote island off Parang, a town in Maguindanao del Norte province.
A government soldier was also injured during the clash, he said.
According to Gonzales, the slain gunmen were among the “armed lawless elements,” aboard 12 motorised bancas (boats), fighting off the island. The armed men reportedly belong to two feuding groups.
Authorities also recovered one M60 machine gun with ammunition, from the clash site.– NNN-PNA
