GOVERNMENT forces repelled an attack by New People's Army (NPA) rebels on Sunday in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Sur, the police reported Tuesday.

The incident took place around 10 p.m. at Purok 4 in the village of Fatima, San Miguel, Zamboanga Del Sur, the police said.

Fortunately, no one among the troops from the Army's 53rd Infantry Battalion assigned at the detachment that came under attack were either killed or injured, the police said.

Corporal Orlando Primitivo, the detachment commander, told the police that they were fired upon by the NPA rebels led by a certain Ka Andoy that prompted them to return fire.

Primitivo told the police that the NPA rebels fled to unknown direction following a five-minute exchange of gunfire.

It was not clear whether or not the NPA rebels have suffered casualties, the police said.

Recovered at the crime scene were 47 empty shells of AK-47 riffle, the police added. (Bong Garcia)