A New People's Army (NPA) insurgent was killed following a brief gunfight with government forces in the central Philippine province of Masbate Thursday morning, the military said on Friday.

Reports reaching the military's general headquarters said the latest clash between troops of the Army's 9th Infantry Battalion and about 30 rebels occurred around 10:15 a.m. local time (0215 GMT) on Thursday local time at a Manlot-od village, in Esperanza town, Xinhua reported.
The soldiers were "conducting combat operations" in the remote area when they caught up with the rebels, sparking a brief firefight, the military said. The rebels later withdrew, leaving a dead comrade and an M16 rifle.

Security forces are aiming to defeat the insurgency problem on or before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo finishes her term next year. Military estimates placed the NPA strength at more than 5, 000 men scattered in more than 60 guerrilla fronts throughout the country.
Peace talks between the government and the communists bogged down in 2004 following the United States' designation of the NPA and its parent body -- the Communist Party of the Philippines -- as foreign terrorist organizations.