1 killed in South Philippine clash

Government troops and leftist rebels clashed in southern Philippines on Sunday, leaving one guerrilla dead, the military said on Monday.

Over a dozen pack bags and an assault rifle were also recovered beside the body of the slain New People's Army rebel at a mountainous village in Toril district, Davao City, according to Albert Caber, regional military spokesperson.

Caber said troops from the army's 84th Infantry Battalion were hunting down a band of NPA gunmen who last week had torched several pieces of heavy equipment and briefly kidnapped 11 civilians in Toril when they ran into over a dozen rebels in Tagurano village past 2 p.m. local time.

"The rebels fled after a brief firefight, leaving behind their dead comrade. No one from the government was hurt," Caber told Xinhua by text message.

He said pursuit operations were now being launched against the guerrillas.

The 4,000-strong NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting a leftist insurgency in 60 Philippine provinces since 1969.

Sources: XINHUA