Seven police killed in Philippines attack

MANILA, Philippines, June 28 (UPI) -- Armed rebels killed seven policemen in the southern Philippines province of Basilan, authorities said Sunday.

The officers were aboard a government vehicle heading back to their headquarters when an undetermined number of armed guerillas attacked the vehicle, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported. No group had claimed responsibility for the slayings, but Superintendent Danilo Bacas, police spokesman in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, blamed rogue elements of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

"Seven of our men died and two others were injured in the ambush of rebels," Bacas told the Inquirer. "There's a pursuit operation ongoing in the area."

He added that six of the police officer died on the spot, including the unit chief whom he identified only as Inspector Janatul.

Eid Kabalu, MILF vice chairman for civil-military affairs, told the newspaper its forces have autonomy on the ground.

"They can do what ever they want but it's not sanctioned by the entire organization," he said. "We are looking into if the attack had something to do with clan war because some policemen in Basilan are involved in (a) family feud."