Seven people killed in clashes in southern Philippines hinh anh 1A victim in the attack on two Presidential Security Group vehicles in Mindanao province receives first aid (Photo: EPA/VNA)
 
 
Hanoi (VNA) – 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. 

The same day, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the NPA will be the next target of the government after the country’s security forces killed pro-IS extremists. 

Previously, on July 19, Duterte directed not to resume peace talks with the NPA unless the group promises to stop attacks on government soldiers in the southern province of Mindanao.

The Philippine government blamed the NPA – a branch of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) in the southern Compostela Valley province, for attacking two Presidential Security Group vehicles along a highway on the main southern island of Mindanao.

The peace negotiations between the government and the NPA have been interrupted since Duterte took office last year while unilateral and bilateral ceasefires were not effective.-VNA
VNA