RP police clash with soldiers

RP police clash with soldiers

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (AP): A clash between a group of
policemen and Philippine soldiers, apparently over a family feud
in a southern village, left three bystanders dead and five
injured, a military official said on Sunday. Among those killed
were two children, police said.

The military has custody of the soldiers but authorities are
still looking for the four policemen involved in the fight
Saturday in downtown Jolo, in Sulu province.

The undetermined number of soldiers were in a passenger
vehicle when they were fired upon by the policemen. The soldiers
returned fire and the fighting stopped after a few minutes when
marine soldiers arrived, said Col. Horacio Lapinid, a military
spokesman.

Lapinid said the family of one of the policemen is apparently
at odds with the family of one of the soldiers. The soldiers are
former Moro National Liberation Front separatist rebels
integrated into the military.