Global General

Man, who guns down 5, shot dead in Philippines

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-10-25 14:55

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- A pro-government militiaman shot dead five of his colleagues and then he was killed by police in southern Philippines over the weekend, a police official said on Monday.

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The massacre at a militia outpost in Palid village, Ipil town, in the western Philippine province of Zamboanga Sibugay, occurred around 7 pm Sunday, when Olegario Bucal started firing his M-14 assault rifle towards his comrades who were watching television inside the camp, Major Arnold Gasalatan, spokesperson of the army's 1st Infantry Division, said.

Gasalatan said the victims all died almost instantly due to multiple gunshot wounds.

The armed suspect then fled and a chase by police and military personnel led to a brief shootout which resulted to his death, the military official said, adding that an investigation is underway.

Sunday's massacre came days after a former rape convict burst into two classrooms in a village in the regional capital of Zamboanga city and knifed students, teachers and a visitor. Three victims were killed and six others were seriously wounded, before angry villagers killed the suspect.