CAMP GENERAL ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan — A man linked to several high profile criminal operations in Central Luzon, Metro Manila, and nearby provinces was killed in a firefight with combined elements of the Bulacan Police and and Highway Patrol Group 3 (HPG) Wednesday night on MacArthur Highway in Malolos City.

In a report submitted to Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo A dela Cruz, Central Luzon police director, Senior Supt. Diosdado G. Ramos, Bulacan police director, identified the slain suspect as Rommel de Leon of Baliuag town.

Ramos, citing the report of Supt. Emma Libunao, Malolos City police chief, said police received an intelligence report that the group of De Leon was planning to assassinate a village chief in the city, the lone witness in a murder case.

At about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, the joint operatives spotted a black Honda City bearing license plate FFW 383 parked at the vicinity of Barangay Guinhawa.

As the police team was approaching the vehicle, a lone man inside the car fired a shot at the lawmen and sped off.