Gunmen from the extremist Abu Sayyaf group fired grenade launchers and automatic rifles on houses while residents were asleep, killing one government-armed militiaman and 10 civilians in the village of Tubigan on the island province of Basilan, said deputy regional police commander Sonny David.
“The villagers were sleeping when the Abu Sayyaf came with their guns blazing. They spared no one, not even the children,” David said.
Four children were among those killed, said armed forces spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner. He corrected an earlier report that the target of the attack was the village's militia detachment.
“They really attacked the villagers,” he said.
One of the villagers, who are mostly citrus farmers, told police he was awakened by the sound of gunfire and saw blood oozing from his body, David said.
The gunmen strafed and torched at least 10 houses before escaping, David said, adding that local police initially reported at least 10 villagers were wounded in addition to the 11 killed.
A 32-year-old woman and her 1-year-old daughter burned to death in their house, he said.
At least 11 who suffered burns and gunshot wounds were brought by boat to two hospitals in the nearby port city of Zamboanga, hospital staff said.
