Ranking NPA leader slain in Camarines

MANILA, Philippines -  A ranking regional leader of the New People’s Army (NPA) was killed yesterday in a clash with government troops in Bato, Camarines Sur, the Army said.

Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the Army’s 9th Infantry Division, identified the slain rebel as Elmer Estrellado, commander of the regional headquarters of the Bicol Regional Party Committee.

Cabunoc said Lt. Col. Ernesto Cruz, commander of the 42nd Infantry Battalion, sent a nine-man squad to a barangay in Bato town after receiving a report about the rebels’ extortion activities.

“My soldiers went directly to the house where the 10 rebels were said to be temporarily staying in Buluang village because the residents there readily helped identify their location,” Cruz said.

“The rebels fired their weapons when the soldiers approached their position, triggering a 10-minute firefight at around 6:30 a.m.,” he added.

The insurgents escaped with their wounded comrades, leaving behind their fallen leader.

Recovered at the encounter site were a .45 caliber pistol, two improvised bombs and subversive documents.

Cabunoc said Estrellado’s body was brought to the Bato town hall for proper disposition.

The Bicol region, where Camarines Sur is located, is one of the areas with the largest concentration of communist guerrillas. Other areas heavily influenced by the insurgents are the provinces of Samar and Leyte, and the Davao region.