Manila, January 23 Police in Maguindanao Province, southern Philippines, said on the 23rd that the provincial police
killed 12 militants while carrying out an arrest operation on the same day, and one policeman died in the exchange of fire.
Ismail Meddin, head of the criminal investigation team of the Maguindanao Provincial Police of the Philippines
told the local media that at about 3 a.m. local time on the 23rd, the police launched an operation in the town of
Sultan Kudala in the province to arrest several suspects suspected of murder, drug trafficking, robbery and other crimes.
During the operation, the police were resisted by a group of armed elements, including the suspect, and the two sides exchanged fire for about five hours.
Police said four more policemen were injured in the exchange of fire.
During the operation, the police seized weapons such as sniper rifles, automatic rifles and pistols.
