4 rebels killed, 1 hurt in North Cotabato clash

MANILA, Philippines - A group of communist rebels and policemen clashed in North Cotabato early dawn Tuesday, leaving four insurgents dead and a police official wounded, the Philippine News Agency reported.

The state news agency said that close to 100 New People's Army rebels arrived at President Roxas town on board trucks at around 3 a.m. and tried to seize the police station in the area.

Local policemen, however, engaged the rebels in a firefight which lasted an hour. Three rebels were killed during the clash while a body of another insurgent was found during pursuit operations as the rebels fled the area.

Senior Inspector Bernabe Rubio, town police chief, was slightly wounded in the encounter.

Authorities recovered from the scene one of the trucks that the rebels commandeered, loaded with ammunition, backpacks, subversive documents and medical kits.