Zamboanga City (The Philippines), Feb 27 (DPA) Thirteen people were killed and several injured Saturday when Muslim militants attacked a village in southern Philippines, a provincial police chief said.
About 70 Muslim Abu Sayyaf rebels swooped down at dawn on the village of Tubigan in Maluso town in Basilan province, 900 km south of Manila, Senior Superintendent Antonio Mendoza said.
“The fatalities were one government militiaman and 12 civilians,” he said.
Mendoza added the injured villagers were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment while more troops were dispatched to the area to pursue the guerrillas.
The attack occurred several hours after government security forces rescued in nearby Sumisip town two Chinese men kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf rebels more than three months ago.
Mendoza did not say if the attack was related to the ongoing pursuit being conducted by government forces against the kidnappers of the Chinese men rescued unharmed late Friday in Binembengan village.
The rescued victims – Zi Shun Lu, 51, and Bo Shung Tan, 27 – were operating a plywood factory in Maluso when the guerrillas abducted them on Nov 10.
The Abu Sayyaf group has been blamed for several deadly terrorist attacks in the country. They were also involved in high-profile kidnappings targeting foreigners and wealthy Filipino businessmen.
