Rebels storm school

MANILA: Suspected members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters reportedly stormed a village Pigcawayan in the southern Philippines early yesterday.

Inspector Realan Mamon, police chief of Pigcawayan, said an unknown number of armed men attacked the village at around 5am.

Military troops confirmed gunmen in the area, adding that civilians were trapped in the area, where government troops engaged the group in a gunfight.

The armed men reportedly stormed a school in the town. Mamon, however, could not say if students were being held hostage.