PILI, Camarines Sur, May 18 -- A suspected New People's Army (NPA) leader was slain in a clash with government troopers in a remote village in Lagonoy town in Camarines Sur on Sunday, a Philippine Army officer said Monday.
Killed was only identified as Ka Elmer, an NPA leader in charge of the movements revolutionary taxation group operating in the fourth district of Camarines Sur.
Army Maj. Gen Ruperto Pabustan, 9th Infantry Division commander, said the clash between a band of communist rebels, led by Ka Elmer, and Army soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Battalion was the result of a tip from villagers about the presence of NPA rebels extorting money and goods from residents of Barangay San Isidro in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur.
Pabustan, quoting reports, said Army troopers responding to the call from villagers engaged the communist rebels to a brief running gun battle that resulted to the killing of Ka Elmer.
The clash took place at about 10:30AM Sunday at the vicinity of Barangay San Isidro wherein the rebels were on their way to another neighboring village for their extortion activities.
Soldiers recovered from the battle scene an 9mm pistol and a .45 caliber handgun from the slain NPA leader.
Caught by surprise, the band of NPA rebels immediately fled after seeing their leader killed at the first volley of gun fire from the soldiers.
Pabustan said reinforcing soldiers have set out road blocks and are scouring the area for the rebels' possible hideout.
The body of the slain NPA leader was brought to the town's police station for proper identity and disposition. (PNA)