Philippine clash kills soldier, injures 2

A soldier was killed and two others injured in an ambushed staged by suspected leftist rebels on Friday in the southern Philippine province of Davao del Sur, a military official said on Saturday.

Troops were conducting security patrol in the village of Sinoron, Sta. Cruz town around 12:10 p.m. local time when they were attacked by undetermined number of New Peoples Army (NPA) rebels, said Apollo Jun Lamaton, commander of the 39th Infantry Battalion.

A firefight ensued leaving a soldier dead and two others injured, according to Lamaton.

After the exchange of gunfire, he said, troops recovered one M16 rifle, two rifle grenades, three unexploded improvised explosive devices, ammunition, assorted medicines, a radio, subversive documents and backpacks at the encounter site left by the rebels.

"Pursuit operations are on-going. The wounded soldiers are now in stable condition," said the officer.

Lamaton said residents reported that they saw four guerillas wounded and carried by their companions during their escape.

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.