(UPDATE) 2 killed as police, rebels clash in Agusan

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (Xinhua) - An alleged ranking member of the New People's Army (NPA) rebel group and a policeman were killed in a clash in the southern Philippines late yesterday, authorities said today.

Another police was also wounded following the incident in a hinterland village in Loreto town of Mindanao's Agusan del Sur province, Dario Otaza, the town mayor, told Xinhua via mobile phone.

Otaza said elements of the Agusan del Sur provincial public security company were conducting patrol in Binucayan village when they were fired upon by an undetermined number of armed persons, believed to be NPA rebels around 4 p.m. local time.

"A 30-minute firefight erupted, resulting in the death of Police Officer Danilo Suhayon and an unidentified NPA member. Police Rodnilo Gir was wounded and is now being treated at a local hospital," Otaza said, quoting a police report.

Recovered at the site of encounter were several high-powered rifles, landmines, subversive documents and personal belongings of guerrillas, who fled after sensing government reinforcements, said Inspector Aldren Salinas, Loreto police station chief.