MANILA, Philippines -- Authorities said a communist rebel faction fired grenades and assault rifles at Vice President Joseph Estrada and members of a special police force Saturday south of the capital.
Estrada, who heads the country's anti-crime task force, was not injured during the attack in Santo Tomas, Batangas, about 40 miles south of Manila.
One officer was wounded.
Police Col. Pansilo Lacson said about 16 New People's Army rebels fired on Estrada and his agents while the party was on its way to exhume the body of a local tax official thought murdered by a former NPA leader.
Following the attack, Armed Forces Chief Lisandro Abadia ordered military officials near Santo Tomas to dispatch ground troops and two helicopter gunships to support Estrada's group.
his officers.
Despite the attack the agents later exhumed the body of Umiral Matic, a bureau of internal revenue director.
Matic allegedly was kidnapped and killed by rebelsd commanded by former NPA leader Leopoldo Mabilangan, known locally as Ka Hector, who surrendered earlier this year under an amnesty program offered by President Fidel Ramos.
Estrada accused Mabilangan of involvement in several kidnappings and murders and has pledged to prosecute him despite the amnesty program.
