ILOILO CITY. A 65-year-old woman was killed and five others, including two children, were wounded after soldiers fired at a village chief and some residents whom they mistook for communist rebels in San Remigio town in Antique early Saturday.

Captain Renante Besa, spokesperson of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division, identified the lone fatality as Epifania Cabaya. Those injured were Cabaya's husband and family members.

All are residents of Panpanan I village in San Remigio.

Besa described the incident as an "encounter between armed civilians" and troops of the 31st Reconnaissance Company under the Task Force Panay.

He said soldiers were patrolling the area to check reports about the presence of armed men when they allegedly encountered a group of residents with firearms led by village chief Julie Cabusbusan.

The two groups allegedly opened fire around 5:30 a.m., thinking that the other group was that of the New People's Army (NPA).

Besa said those who were killed and injured were "caught in the crossfire."