Suspected Philippine rebels kill 5 police

MANILA, Philippines – Police in the northern Philippines say suspected communist rebels have shot and killed a police chief and four other officers after detonating roadside bombs under their patrol car.

The attack Sunday killed the Rizal town police chief and his wife, also an officer.

Two others were wounded in the ambush, which came a week after Philippine government and communist rebel negotiators agreed to restart talks on ending the 42-year rural-based insurgency that has killed some 120,000 people.

Cagayan provincial police director Jose Francisco Villaroman said the slain police chief, Antonio Rueco, was able to use his mobile phone to call for help after he was shot by the rebels but rescuers arrived too late to save him.