5 killed, 3 wounded in central Philippine clash

Four New People's Army (NPA) rebels and a government soldier were killed and three other soldiers injured in a firefight in Cawayan town in Masbate of central Philippines on Monday afternoon.

Maj. Angelo Guzman, spokesman of the military's Southern Luzon Command, said the fighting was triggered by an ambush staged by at least 20 insurgents against the soldiers and policemen.

Guzman said soldiers from the Army's 9th Infantry Battalion and Masbate Philippine National police (PNP) Public Safety Company were aboard two civilian trucks when they were waylaid by the rebels around 4:30 p.m. in Tuburan Village.

Col. Cesar Idio, 903 Brigade commander, said, "The soldiers and policemen were able to perform their immediate action on the supposed ambush and turned the initiative in their favor killing four rebels and recovery of a cal.45 pistol."

The 15-minute firefight also left a soldier dead and three more troopers wounded. The wounded were taken to the Masbate Provincial Hospital and are already out of danger.

The NPA has been waging a guerrilla campaign against the government in the countryside for over four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in the country.