Manila, June 16 -- A member of the New People's Army (NPA) was killed in a clash with government forces in the mountains of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, the Philippine Army reported on Monday.

Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade, said the rebel, identified as a member of the sub-regional committee Sesame of the NPA Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, was killed in a 15-minute clash with soldiers in the upland village of Pinanag-an on Sunday.

"We were serious when we issued the ultimatum for them to abandon the armed struggle, and we are just getting started. Expect that we will be relentless in our combat operations in the following days," Vestuir said in a phone interview.

Vestuir said troops...