Leftist rebel killed in Sarangani clash

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - A suspected member of the leftist rebel group New People's Army (NPA) was killed in an encounter with government troops in Sarangani, local military said today.

Ernest Carolina, 10th Infantry Division (ID) spokesperson, said that troops from Army's 27th Infantry Battalion discovered the remains of the suspected leftist rebel with an M16 rifle in Lumasal village, Maasim town at around 5:30 a.m. local time on Saturday.

The rebel was believed to be left by his comrades after a 15- minute clash with the Army troopers in the same village on Friday afternoon, he said.

The body was the ninth recovered by the 10th ID soldiers as a result of operations during the month of October, Carolina said.