4 killed in southern Philippine clashes

Four people, including an army trooper, were killed in separate clashes with leftist New People's Army (NPA) in southern Philippine province of Davao del Norte, local military said Thursday.

The first encounter occurred in Pinamuno village, San Isidro town in Davao del Norte on Wednesday, leaving two rebels and a soldier dead, said Captain Rhyan Batchar, chief of Public Affairs Division of the Army's 10th Infantry Division.

The second clash took place in the same area while government troopers were scouring the place. A dead rebel and one AK-47 rifle were left behind by his fleeing comrades.

The NPA, the armed front of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front, has been waging war against the government for over four decades.

Source: XINHUA