GOVERNMENT troops foiled an extortion attempt by suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) from a business factory located in the village of Kipalbig, Tampakan town in South Cotabato on Tuesday.

In a statement, the Army said Thursday NPA rebels tried to force extortion demand from Lapanday Foods Corp. The suspects also attempted to burn the company's airplane for aerial spraying.

Soldiers belonging to the 102nd Division Reconnaissance Company acted immediately in response from the information relayed by an informant regarding the presence of the NPA rebels in the area.

A 30-minute firefight then ensued between the government troops and the NPA rebels that resulted to latter’s withdrawal.

A security guard was killed while five soldiers suffered minor injuries.

Wounded soldiers were immediately rushed to the hospital while the body of the security guard was turned over to his family in Tampakan town in South Cotabato.

Brigadier General Benjamin R. Madrigal Jr., acting commander of 10th Infantry Division, said extortion activities of the NPA rebels only show that they are not for peace.

"The NPA rebels did not just conducted terror attack but threatened the livelihood of the almost 1,000 workers employed by the company," Madrigal said. (KRP)