One paramilitary killed, soldier wounded in S. Philippine encounter

A paramilitary was killed and a soldier was wounded in a clash with suspected leftist New People's Army (NPA) in southern Philippine province of Compostela Valley, local military said Monday.

Intowa Saddam, a member of the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (Cafgu), was killed, while Private First Class Rodelo Cahapon was slightly wounded during a 30-minute firefight in Aguinaldo village, Laak town on Sunday, said Vergel Lacambra, Army's 10th Infantry Division public affairs office chief.

Troops from Army's 60th Infantry Battalion were conducting a security patrol when they received reports of the presence of armed men in the area and chanced upon the leftist rebels. Firefight ensued.

After the encounter, government troops recovered one AK-47 rifle and three backpacks.

Pursuit operations have been launched as many of the withdrawing NPA bandits were wounded in the firefight according to the accounts of the civilians, Lacambra said.

The 4,000-strong NPA has been waging war against the government for over four decades. Endi