MANILA, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Five alleged gunmen were killed in a shootout with soldiers in a roadside checkpoint in Pikit, a town in the southern Philippine province of North Cotabato Friday night, an army spokesman said on Saturday.
Army Major Arvin John Encinas of the Western Mindanao Command said the gunfire occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Friday.
According to Encinas, the soldiers and policemen were on a "routine patrol" when they tried to stop the speeding car with the five gunmen on board. The gunmen allegedly fired at the security forces, forcing them to fire back, he added.
"Without any provocation, the troops manning the checkpoint were fired upon by the armed men aboard the said vehicle. Government troops returned fire, neutralizing five armed men," Encinas said.
One of the slain gunmen was later identified as the son of former local mayor.
Government forces also seized an M16 assault rifle, two M653 rifles, an M1911 handgun, a hand grenade, a rifle grenade, sachets of illicit drugs methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia, Encinas said.
Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, commander of Western Mindanao Command, commended the soldiers and policemen who killed the five gunmen.
"Your steadfastness will bear more accomplishments in our internal security campaign to defeat lawlessness in Mindanao," Sobejana said, vowing "to sustain its campaign against lawless elements and loose firearms in Mindanao" in the southern Philippines.
