AFP. 10 January 2002. Seven slain as communist guerrillas ambush Philippine patrol.
COTABATO -- Four militiamen, two guerrillas and a schoolboy were slain in a gunbattle that broke out after communist insurgents ambushed a government patrol in the southern Philippine province of North Cotabato, the military said Friday. The militamen were patrolling Makilala town on Thursday when guerrillas of the communist New People's Army (NPA) ambushed them, local military spokesman, Major Julieto Ando said. Four militiamen were slain in the first salvo but the rest fought back, killing two of the rebels. A boy of about nine years old, who was walking to school, was killed by a stray bullet, Ando added. The communists fled as military reinforcements arrived, Ando said. The 12,000-strong NPA is the armed unit of the communist insurgents who have been waging a Maoist rebellion for more than three decades. The Philippine government has expressed hope it can resume stalled peace talks with the communists but the rebels have accused Manila of insincerity, saying the government deliberately failed to officially inform Norway of peace talks that were to have been held in Oslo this week. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barry Stoller http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ProletarianNews
