TACLOBAN CITY, May 6 -- The Philippine Army has paid tribute to the heroism of Cpl. Arvien Pajanustan, who was killed in a clash with members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Matuguinao, Samar on Saturday.

"He offered the ultimate sacrifice, while serving the people of Samar to attain lasting peace," Capt. Jefferson Mariano, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 8th Infantry Division, said on Monday.

Pajanustan, one of the troopers of the Army's 19th Infantry Battalion based in Catubig, Northern Samar died during a clash past 2 p.m. on May 4 with a group of 10 rebels led by a certain Tigeo Dela Cruz in the upland village of San Roque in Matuguinao town.

The soldier died at the encounter site after a bullet hit his neck, according to M...