Soldier killed in C. Philippine clash

A soldier was killed and two leftist New People's Army (NPA) rebels were captured following a clash in central Philippine province of Northern Samar Tuesday morning, a military official said Wednesday.

Amado Gutierrez, spokesperson of the army's 8th Infantry Division, said the soldier died while being rushed to a hospital.

Gutierrez said government troops were fired upon by undetermined number of NPA rebels around 10 a.m. local time in a remote village of Las Navas town. This triggered a 15-minute firefight until the insurgents withdrew, the official said.

"The encounter resulted to the capture of two unidentified NPA rebels. On the part of the government troops, one soldier was critically wounded and died on the way to the hospital," he said.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign against the government in the countryside for four decades. Military estimates the NPA strength at more than 4,000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country. Endi