6 killed in Zambo, Butuan clashes

PAGADIAN CITY (AFP) — Six people, including two women, were killed in Zamboanga del Sur and Butuan City last Thursday when government forces clashed with communist rebels and suspected bandits, the military said.

Three members of a bandit group and a female companion were killed in a clash with soldiers off the coast of the Zamboanga del Sur town of Dinas, about 40 kilometers from this city, local battalion commander Lt. Col. Reiner Omayao said.

A motorboat, rocket-launcher, grenade launcher and an M-16 rifle were recovered after soldiers killed bandit leader Kok Lao, two of his followers and his girlfriend in the gunbattle. The group had been engaged in piracy and extortion in the area, Omayao said.

On the same day, two communist guerrillas, including a woman, were killed by military intelligence agents in Butuan City, military spokesman Lt. Col. Buenaventura Pascual said.

Two pistols, a grenade, ammunition, three mobile phones and subversive documents were recovered from the group, Pascual said in Manila.

Muslim separatist rebels, armed bandits and communist guerrillas are all active in parts of Mindanao.