Communist rebels attacked a government militia outpost Saturday in the northern Philippines, provoking a clash in which three guerrillas were killed, police said. The rebels stormed the encampment outside the mountain township of Sallapadan, said Abra provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Alexander Pumecha. About 20 government militiamen resisted the dawn assault, killing three guerrillas, but abandoned the outpost hours later when a larger group of about 100 New People's Army guerrillas attacked, Pumecha said. “They stood their ground but withdrew because of the superiority of strength” of the rebel force, Pumecha said. He said the rebels fled the camp later Saturday when government troops counterattacked. The soldiers were still pursuing the retreating rebels hours later and sporadic clashes were reported, Pumecha said. He said guerrillas operating in surrounding provinces may have taken part in the attack. It was the first time the rebels have attacked a militia detachment in the area, he said.
