13 killed, 4 injured in Philippines shootout

MANILA: At least thirteen people, including a police officer, were killed and four others were wounded on Saturday during a shootout in the southern Philippines Maguindanao province.

According to reports, the shootout erupted when the police went to the hideout a of a fugitive in Sultan Kudarat town at around 3 a.m. to serve an arrest warrant for murder, robbery, and homicide.

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Police said the suspect and his armed followers resisted arrest and allegedly fired at the arresting team, resulting in a shootout that lasted five hours.

Four policemen were wounded in the incident, police added.

Police recovered six M16 assault rifles, two .45 caliber pistols, one homemade .50-caliber Barret sniper rifle, one M14 rifle, one light automatic rifle, and a .22 caliber rifle at the clash site.

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