Manila, Sept. 9 -- A ranking New People's Army (NPA) leader was killed in a brief armed encounter with government troops in the hinterlands of Barangay Caridad, Baybay City, Leyte, late Tuesday, the Philippine Army has reported.

Killed was Erwin Murillo Maceda, alias "Romnick," identified by the Army as vice team leader 1 of the island committee under the NPA's Eastern Visayas regional party committee. He is a native of Las Navas, Northern Samar.

Soldiers also recovered an M16 rifle from the encounter site, according to the Army's 802nd Infantry Brigade.

The encounter occurred after troops responded to information from a concerned resident about the presence of armed individuals allegedly collecting money and food from residents in the...