4 Killed In Attack In The Philippines

Rebels attacked a police station in a port town southeast of Manila before dawn Saturday, and at least three guerrillas and a coastguard officer were killed and seven others were wounded, officials said. About 80 new people's army guerrillas, arriving in land vehicles and motorboats, fired on officers at the police station and nearby coast guard office in the town of Matnog, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) southeast of Manila, national police chief Oscar Calderon said.Government volunteer troops and a group of soldiers waiting for a ferry ride backed police in repulsing the assault, forcing the guerrillas to withdraw after a two-hour gunbattle, local army commander Brig. Gen. Arsenio Arugay said. At least three rebels and a coast guard officer were killed, he said. Calderon said a coast guard officer, five policemen and a civilian were wounded.