Government forces assaulted a camp of New People's Army (NPA) in northern Philippine province of Quezon early Sunday morning, killing one of the rebels, a military spokesman said.

However, 19 other rebels in the encampment were able to flee and are subject of pursuit operations by elements of the Army's 74th Infantry Battalion, said Rhoderick Parayno, spokesman of the Southern Luzon Command.

The firefight began at around 5:45 a.m. and lasted for over an hour before the rebels escaped and dispersed in different directions, said Parayno.

During clearing operations, the Army troops recovered the body of the unidentified slain rebel and some firearms, Parayno said.

Parayno also said that Fernando Mesa, commander of the 2nd Infantry Division, has ordered his subordinate commanders to " constrict" the NPA rebels and disrupt their supposed plan to " implement tactical offensives against government troops" in the province.

The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines. It has been waging a guerrilla campaign on the countryside for 37 years.

Source: Xinhua