Militiaman, rebel killed in Davao City clash - Army

MANILA, Philippines - A government militiaman and a suspected communist rebel were killed following a clash in the southern city of Davao Thursday, the spokesman of the Philippine Army said. About 5 a.m., an undetermined number of New People's Army (NPA) harassed the detachment of the 9th Special Forces company in Paradise Embac in the city's Paquibato district, said Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner. The ensuing firefight resulted in the killing of the government militiaman and the suspected rebel, Brawner said. Two other militiamen were wounded. The troops recovered an M14 rifle from the slain rebel, Brawner said. The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It has been waging a Maoist insurgency campaign on the countryside for nearly four decades. Peace negotiations with the mainstream communist movement were stalled in August 2004. - GMANews.TV