1 soldier, 1 rebel die in clash

CEBU, Philippines - A soldier of the 79th Infantry Battalion and a member of the New People's Army were killed in a 30-minute firefight at sitio Sandana in Barangay Mansangaban of Bais City yesterday morning.

The government troops clashed with about 15 armed men, believed to be members of the NPA's South East Front.

Indentities of the fatalities have been withheld pending the notification of their next of kin. Their bodies were brought down via ambulance from the encounter scene to Bais City District Hospital.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Estella, deputy commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, said the clash came after the military got reports from civilians about armed men allegedly asking food from the residents. (FREEMAN)