A non-commissioned officer in the Philippines’ government army was killed in a clash with fighters from the New People’s Army (NPA) in Matuguinao, northern Samar, on Saturday, May 4th. The soldier, who had the rank of corporal, and belonged to the 19th Infantry Battalion, was killed in a shootout in Barangay San Roque. His detachment clashed in this village with a dozen Maoists from the guerrilla unit of the sub-regional committee Emporium.