MANILA, Philippines—A communist rebel was killed during a gunbattle with government troops in Camarines Sur, the Philippine Army said Monday.

A squad of the Alpha Company of the 31st Infantry Battalion (IB) was conducting clearing operations in the village of Malangcao Basud, Labo, in Camarines Sur when it encountered four members of the New People’s Army (NPA), including a woman fighter, at 12:20 p.m. Sunday, said Army spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner, Jr.

A three-minute firefight ensued and the overpowered rebels withdrew, Brawner said.

But another squad from the 31st IB, together with an Army K9 team, joined in chasing the withdrawing rebels resulting to a 10-minute gunbattle that killed alleged NPA rebel Oscar Galicia, alias Ka Eugene, Brawner said.

The other three rebels escaped leaving behind Galicia’s body which was turned over to the provincial police before being brought to Belmonte Funeral Parlor in Labo town, Brawner said.

The soldiers recovered an M16 rifle, a shot gun (Armscor) with 25 pieces live ammunition, two Bandoleers with three magazines of M16, three backpacks containing personal belongings, an ICOM radio, assorted SIM cards and subversive documents, Brawner said.