Five people were killed after Communist rebels attacked a police station in Mati City, Davao Oriental. In all two soldiers and an insurgent were killed during the gun battle which is said to have lasted 15 to 20 minutes.
The rebels attempted to seize the station at 7.30pm on Sunday – dozens of leftists rebels in military uniforms arrived at the station in Madang Village on board a truck and began to fire on policemen there.
“(New People’s Army) bandits attempted but failed to seize the Mati City police station. Police on duty defended their station and thwarted the attack,” Lacambra said. Troops from the army’s 701st Infantry Brigade pursued the fleeing rebels that led to the death of two soldiers and an insurgent.
“Armoured vehicles were mobilised to secure the heavily populated area from the attack,” said Lacambra.
Colonel Bienvinido Datuin, 701st Infantry Brigade commander, said the rebels detonated a landmine, killing the two soldiers and wounding five others.
As of this posting two others are dead in the aforementioned, the additional two have not been reported as to their allegiance.