Suspected NPA rebels attack 100 unarmed cops; 1 dead, 6 hurt

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) - Suspected members of the New People's Army attacked on Friday morning a group of 100 unarmed policemen in Tadian, Mt. Province, killing one and wounding six.

Initial reports said that at least 24 police trainees went missing after being taken hostage by the rebels.

”Our policemen are on a scout training. They were unarmed when attacked. They were jogging, afterwhich, they were scheduled to eat their breakfast. We deplore the premeditated and treacherous act. The rebels should know that the persons they were attacking are their co-residents in the Cordillera region,” Senior Superintendent Dave Limmong of the Police Regional Office Cordillera (PROCOR) said.

The attack happened at around 5:45 a.m.

The policemen are members of the Philippine National Police's Special Counter-insurgency Operation Unit Training.

Limong added that a contingent police force has been dispatched to the area in Barangay Kabunagan, 90 kilometers northeast of the regional police headquarter in Camp Bado Dangwa, Benguet, to conduct an investigation.

Meanwhile, the injured cops were taken to a hospital in Bauko, Mt. Province for treatment. with Dennis Carcamo