3 soldiers killed, 4 others wounded in Philippine rebel attack

3 soldiers killed, 4 others wounded in Philippine rebel attack

2011-02-27 21:41:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

IFUGAO, PHILIPPINES (BNO NEWS) -- Three army soldiers were killed and four others wounded on Saturday in an ambush by New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the northern landlocked province of Ifugao, a military spokesman said.

The troops were on a humanitarian mission when they were attacked at a village in Asipulo town around 10:35 a.m., Col. Miguel Puyao, civil military operations officer of the Philippine Army's 5th Infantry Division, said.

"Along the way, they encountered undetermined number of local terrorists, after five minutes of firefight, three soldiers were killed while four others were wounded," he said, as cited by the Daily Tribune.

Puyao stressed the soldiers were only carrying hammers, saws, and nails to assist residents whose houses were destroyed by typhoon Juan last year. He added that soldiers were not able to establish if there were casualties on the rebel side.

On February, there have been more than 50 confirmed reports of atrocities committed by NPA rebels which have destroyed properties, businesses and to the extent-people's lives.

The NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been waging a guerrilla campaign in the countryside for more than four decades.

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