Davao City, Philippines - Seven suspected Muslim separatist rebels were killed in a clash with police officers in the southern Philippines, police said Wednesday.
The clash occurred in the village of Napnapan in Pnatukan town, Compostela Valley province, 930 kilometres south of Manila, on Tuesday.
Senior Superintendent Francisco Villaroman, a regional police intelligence chief, said the rebels were suspected to be members of a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).
He added that the rebels were "engaged in extortion activities."
"These are lawless elements and had been subjects of a complaint by the governor, businessmen and people they have been threatening," Villaramon said.