NPA leader with P2.3-M bounty on head killed in Kalinga clash, in Balbalan town an alleged leader of the New Peoples Army (NPA) with a P2.3-million bounty on his head was killed in an encounter with government troops in Sitio Babacong, Barangay Gawa-an, Balbalan, Kalinga.
Major General Laurence Mina, 5thID commander identified the fatality as Rudy Daguitan, a political officer of the Kilusang Larangang Gerilya Baggas, Ilocos Cordillera Regional Committee, and team leader, Samahang Yunit Propaganda and her Wife Nora Miguel @ (Gemay).
A platoon of the 50th Infantry Battalion was conducting combat operations in the area when they discovered an NPA encampment, triggering an encounter with an undetermined number of NPA rebels led by an alias Mio, CO of Platoon Guevara, KLG Baggas that lasted for one hour.
Daguitan was killed in the encounter while no casualty on the government side was reported.
Mina said Daguitan had warrants of arrest and considered a most wanted person for his alleged involvement in multiple murder cases, multiple frustrated murder, and robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons.
He said Daguitan carried a P2.3 million reward on his head for his numerous involvement in violent activities.
Daguitan was allegedly involved in the ambush of Philippine Army troopers on Jan. 22, 2001 here where two soldiers were killed and five others were wounded.
He was also allegedly involved in an encounter with Army troopers on April 4, 2009 at the boundary of Sitio Agama and Sitio Mallogan in Barangay Western Uma, Lubuagan, Kalinga, in which two soldiers were killed.