Seven people killed in clashes in southern Philippines
One civilian and six policemen, including a town police chief, were killed and three other police were injured in ambushes believed to be staged by the New People’s Army (NPA) militant group in southern Philippines, the country’s military said on July 21.
A victim in the attack on two Presidential Security Group vehicles in Mindanao province receives first aid (Photo: EPA/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Onecivilian and six policemen, including a town police chief, were killed andthree other police were injured in ambushes believed to be staged by the NewPeople’s Army (NPA) militant group in southern Philippines, the country’smilitary said on July 21.
The same day, President Rodrigo Duterteannounced that the NPA will be the next target of the government after thecountry’s security forces killed pro-IS extremists.
Previously, on July 19, Duterte directed not toresume peace talks with the NPA unless the group promises to stop attacks ongovernment soldiers in the southern province of Mindanao.
The Philippine government blamed the NPA – abranch of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in thesouthern Compostela Valley province, for attacking two Presidential SecurityGroup vehicles along a highway on the main southern island of Mindanao.
The peace negotiations between the governmentand the NPA have been interrupted since Duterte took office last year whileunilateral and bilateral ceasefires were not effective.-VNA
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on June 11 that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, leader of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS), ordered the siege in Marawi city on Mindanao island.
The navy forces of the US and the Philippines has conducted a joint patrol in the Sulu Sea off the southern coast of the Philippines at the request of the latter’s government.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on July 19 threatened to end peace talks progress with an opposite militant group, hours after an attack on the presidential vehicles wounding at least four of his military bodyguards.
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A victim in the attack on two Presidential Security Group vehicles in Mindanao province receives first aid (Photo: EPA/VNA) 
