5 rebels killed in firefight in S. Philippines

Five members of secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed in an intense firefight with village security forces in southern Philippines Thursday evening, the military said. The exchange of gunfire started at around 4:30 p.m. this afternoon when the undetermined number of rebels headed by a certain Commander met the troops of village chief Hermogenes Obrique and his Peacekeeping Action Team (BPAT) forces at the triboundary of Maguindanao, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces. The firefight is still going on, said an officer from the army 602nd brigade. The five killed rebels are still not unidentified, no words yet from the MILF as of this moment. The wounded were identified as village head Hermogenes Obrique, Teng Laman and Moises Laman.