Philippine military officials said 18 combatants have been killed after rebels attacked armed tribesmen, who were later reinforced by Army troops, in the south of the country in one of the bloodiest attacks so far this year.
Army Major General Ricardo Visaya said on Tuesday that the New People’s Army guerrillas attacked Manobo tribesmen in a village of Prosperidad town in Agusan del Sur province, sparking a clash that killed 12 insurgents and four tribesmen.
General Visaya said Army troops were deployed to reinforce the tribesmen, igniting pockets of fighting that killed a soldier and another rebel.
Regional military commander Lt. General Rainier Cruz said the Maoist rebels were trying to recruit the tribesmen, who refused, resulting in disputes that turned violent.
