A platoon of government troops was responding to a report of communist election extortion when waylaid by New People’s Army rebels at around 5:30 a.m. in the village of Panaytayan, said Colonel Carlos Quita, provincial military commander in Oriental Mindoro.

A three-hour gun battle also resulted in the wounding of seven soldiers with undetermined casualties on the side of the rebels, he said.

Quita, who flew to the area Saturday morning, said government troops “fought it out literally to the last bullet.”

In Manila, military spokesman Colonel Romeo Brawner said more soldiers backed by helicopter gunships have been dispatched to track down the NPA insurgents.

The soldiers were patrolling the area as part of security measures to ensure that candidates in the upcoming May national elections would be able to campaign safely, the two officials said.

“The security patrols and relocation of troops are being implemented to ensure freedom of movement of the candidates when the campaign starts,” Quita said.

He vowed to intensify government’s drive to stop NPA rebels from exacting “campaign fees” from local candidates gunning for various posts in the May 10 polls.

Quita said the “permit to win” and “permit to campaign extortion schemes” of the NPA are depriving electorate in rebel-infested areas from freely choosing their next political leaders.

The rebels have been demanding extortion payments from candidates in exchange for "permits to campaign" cards. Those who refuse to pay are attacked and sometimes killed. -- INQUIRER