Airstrike allegedly kills 6 in Philippines

MANILA, Philippines, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- The Philippine army is disputing local accounts that an airstrike Monday killed six civilians, including five children, in Maguindanao Province.

Army officials say those killed aboard the small boat were rebels, but local authorities said the dead belonged to one family, The Manila Times reported.

Military planes bombed the boat on the Pawas River in the village of Te, killing a man and his five children, Mosib Tan, the local municipal administrator, told the newspaper.

The mother of the children reportedly was aboard the boat but her body had not been found in the debris, the Times reported, noting the strike displaced more than 700 families from the village.

"Our refugee shelters are packed. How can we feed all these poor people who fled their homes?" Tan asked.