Posted on 03/22/2004 5:27:24 PM PST by csvset
Six New People's Army (NPA) rebels were killed when guerilla units supposed to be meeting to plan a joint attack mistook each other for government troops, the military said Monday.
Guerrillas from one unit of the NPA ventured into the territory of another last week to join forces for the assault, local military commander Lt. Col. Johnny Macanas said.
But under cover of darkness, they mistook each other for soldiers and opened fire in the confusion, Macanas said.
The joint attack they were planning was to have been carried out on March 29, he said.
Two other NPA rebels were killed and five soldiers wounded in a separate clash, while a young boy working with the rebels was captured by troops in separate incidents, the military added.
The NPA, which has have been waging a 35-year armed insurgency, has stepped up attacks during campaigning for May 10 general elections.
The rebels are reportedly extorting money from candidates as well as coercing people to vote for candidates of left-leaning parties.
abs-cbnNEWS.com monitor
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