MANILA, Philippines - An Army soldier was killed in a clash with suspected communist rebels in Uson town in Masbate province Tuesday, a regional military spokesperson said.
Capt. Leah Santiago of the Armed Forces Southern Luzon Command (Solcom) said the firefight erupted 10 a.m., about an hour before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo convened a Cabinet meeting in Placer town, about 50 kilometers from the encounter site.
Santiago said the clash occurred when patrolling elements of the 9th Infantry Battalion chanced upon 20 New People's Army (NPA) rebels in Villafuerte village.
The fatality was identified as a certain Sgt. Gonzales. No casualties on the rebel side were reported.
Santiago said the skirmish was not related to President Arroyo's visit to the province. "It is not associated with the visit of the President. With or without the visit of the President, we are continuing with the (anti-insurgency) operations. They were there days ago, the troops are on operation."
At 7:45 a.m., troops on board a civilian vehicle were fired upon by suspected insurgents in Mobo town also in Masbate province. No casualties were reported.
Before dawn Tuesday, an explosion caused by an improvised explosive device (not a landmine as earlier reported by radio), rocked the town of Placer, where the President convened the Cabinet meeting.
Military authorities said the IED exploded at an isolated place. There were no reported casualties in the said explosion. - GMANews.TV