The police officer was killed while three other policemen and three members of the civilian security force of Languyan town, were wounded when they tried to intercept a group of suspected pirates who had stolen a boat engine.
In a report, the regional police said the civilian security men were in a speedboat when they came under fire from the suspected pirates as they approached, triggering a 10-minute gunfight.
Two of the suspected pirates were killed and two others were wounded, the police said.
The area, close to the border with Malaysia, is notorious for rebels and pirates.
The Philippines and Malaysia recently intensified naval patrols along their borders to deter Moro guerrillas and pirates from attacking ships. — Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe and AP