One soldier died while five were wounded Tuesday after a landmine allegedly planted by leftist rebels hit two military vehicles in the southern Philippine province of Davao Oriental.

According to Lt. Col. Lyndon Paniza, spokesman for the 10th Infantry Division, soldiers from the Peace and Development Teams of 28th Infantry Battalion were on board the military vehicles when the New People's Army (NPA) attacked them at Calapagan village in Lupon town around 12:20 am, local time.

Paniza said the soldiers were in the area to help the victims of typhoon Bopha (local name: Pablo).

Six soldiers were wounded and rushed to the Provincial Hospital, but one of them, identified as Private First Class Jhasam Diaz died while being treated, Paniza said.

The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front (CPP-NDF), has been waging war against the government for over four decades.

The Aquino administration has been trying to reach a peace pact with the rebels as peace negotiations have been revived with the NDF, the leftist rebels' political wing.