Maj Leo Bongosia of the army's 4th Infantry Division says about 40 New People's Army guerrillas attacked a militia outpost in southern Agusan del Sur province's Sibagat township early today but the militiamen fought back.
Bongosia says two military helicopter gunships provided fire support to army reinforcements. One soldier also was wounded.
It was the biggest battle loss for the rebels after a senior regional Communist Party leader and seven other guerrillas were killed in an army attack two weeks earlier in Sorsogon province southeast of Manila.