Report: Suspected rebels kill village chief in Bicol

Suspected New People's Army (NPA) rebels gunned down a female village chief in Camarines Sur province in Bicol Sunday. On Monday, radio dzXL cited belated police reports that victim Maritess Toldanes was killed over efforts to thwart the NPAs' alleged extortion activities in the area. The report said the incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, when the suspected insurgents went to the victim's house in Pulang Daga village in Balatan town. Initial investigation showed Toldanes sustained gunshot wounds in the head and chest. A manhunt by police and the Army's 42nd Infantry Battalion is ongoing against the suspects. The report said Toldanes was the second victim of NPAs in the province since Pfc. Francisco Nonado was gunned down in Calawat village in Pamplona town last June 11. Authorities have said that the outlawed group resorts to extortion to finance their operations. Talks between the government and the National Democratic Front (NDF) have been stalled since August 2004. There has been no announcement yet on the resumption of talks with the incoming Aquino administration. — RSJ, GMANews.TV