2 killed in Samar clash between Army, NPA rebs

An Army soldier and a suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebel were killed following a clash in Samar province in central Philippines Friday, a regional military spokesman said. In a text message to reporters, Lt. Col. Armand Rico of the Army's 8th Infantry Division, said the clash erupted at 10:50 a.m. while troops from the 34th Infantry Battalion were conducting security operations in Bag-otan village in Matuguinao town. Rico said the firefight lasted for 10 minutes, leaving Corporal Ruel Alao dead and Private First Class Noriel Mengote wounded. An unidentified rebel was also killed in the encounter, even as the operating troops recovered an M16 rifle and several rounds of ammunition. Pursuit operations have since been conducted, Rico said. The clash came as the deadline for government forces to crush the communist insurgency nears. In June 2006, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed the military and police to defeat the communist rebels by the time she ends her term on June 30, 2010. Peace negotiations between Manila and the National Democratic Front were stalled in August 2004. The talks have yet to resume since then. — RSJ, GMANews.TV