Five killed in leftist rebel attack in S. Philippine city

Five people were killed following a foiled attack by leftist rebels on a police station in southern Philippines on Sunday night, authorities said on Monday.

Two soldiers and an insurgent were killed in a running gun battle after New People's Army (NPA) militants attempted to seize the Mati City police station in Mindanao's Davao Oriental province around 7:30 p.m. local time, said Lieutenant Vergel Lacambra, spokesperson of the army's 10th Infantry Division.

Dozens of leftist rebels in military uniforms arrived at the station in Madang village on board a truck and started a firefight with policemen, Lacambra told Xinhua by mobile phone.

"(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, adding responding troops from the army's 701st Infantry Brigade pursued the fleeing rebels that led to the death of two soldiers and an insurgent.

"Armored vehicles were mobilized 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.

A policeman and a rebel were also killed when NPA militants attempted to disarm the policeman guarding the city bus terminal.

The 4,000-strong NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting a leftist insurgency in Philippines since 1969. Endi