Suspected NPA rebel shoots self dead at Batangas checkpoint

MANILA, Philippines—A man believed to be a member of the communist New People’s Army killed himself Monday when he was cornered by authorities at a checkpoint in San Rafael village in Sto. Tomas, Batangas, police said Tuesday.

Hernando Visaya died from a single gunshot wound to his head around 3:45 p.m., said Superintendent Nicolas Torre, Batangas provincial police spokesman.

Torre said that joint forces of the police and military manning the checkpoint heard a single gunshot after the occupants of a stopped Toyota Grandia van—former Alaminos, Laguna, Mayor Samuel Bueser and his driver—got off to be checked.

Visaya, who refused to step out of the van, apparently shot himself, and when authorities opened the passenger door of the van, his body fell to the ground. He had died on the spot, police said.

Police recovered one Colt .45-cal. pistol and a magazine loaded with seven live ammunitions.

Bueser,  according to Batangas provincial police director Senior Superintendent Rosauro Acio, claimed that Visaya was his “inaanak sa kasal (wedding godson)” who was visiting him.

Torre said that police had been tipped off by the military that a known NPA member would pass by the area on Monday.

Acio said that the former mayor had come from Manila when they were flagged down at the checkpoint.

Authorities had been searching for Visaya for his alleged involvement in the deaths of several soldiers and policemen in the area, Acio said.

He said that the checkpoint had been set up specifically to entrap Visaya after the tip-off.