MANILA, Philippines -- Four separate clashes between rebels and government troops in the Philippines have killed at least 19 people, including a mayor, the Philippine News Agency said today.
In the bloodiest encounter, Libacao Mayor Sol Legaspi and 10 soldiers and militiamen were killed Sunday in an ambush in the central province of Aklan, the report said.
Seven others were wounded in the clash.
Legaspi and his men were riding in two vehicles when they were waylaid by about 50 guerrillas of the New People's Army, armed wing of the outlawed Communist Party of the Philippines.
In Bontoc, 180 miles north of Manila, four soldiers on their way to buy supplies were killed in a separate ambush by communist rebels Sunday, the agency said. Four others were reported wounded.
The agency also said soldiers killed three rebels belonging to the Moslem separatist Moro National Liberation Front in a firefight in Sultan Kudarat on the southern island of Mindanao late last week.
One soldier was gunned down when Philippine marines overran a Moro Front training camp at Brookes Point on Palawan island southwest of Manila last week, the agency said.
The agency said navy officials reported a 'big number' of Moro guerrillas were believed killed during the operation. Traces of blood were seen along the rebel escape route, it said.
