NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur — At least seven soldiers were wounded when they figured in a brief encounter with New People’s Army (NPA) rebels last Monday evening while conducting hot pursuit against the rebels in the mountainous areas of Barangay Kili, Tubo, Abra, a belated report said Wednesday.

The communist rebels are being pursued for the death of five soldiers and the wounding of 10 others in separate encounters in the hinterlands towns of Tubo and Malibcong last Sunday.

Col. Essel Soriano, commander of the Army’s 503rd Brigade based in Lagangilang, Abra, identified the seven wounded soldiers as Sgt. Rodolfo Dombrique Jr., Privates 1st Class Frank Nawi, Felix Gac-oy, Antonio Allawi, Jaylord Reboredo, Glendon Guillermo, and Pvt. Jay-ar Laman, all from the Army’s 50th Infantry Battalion.

Soriano said the soldiers sustained shrapnel wounds from either an improvised explosive device or landmines laid by the rebels along a footpath in the mountainous area of Barangay Kili around 10 p.m. Monday following a brief gunfight.

In the brief encounter, the soldiers were able to gain vantage position and were able to retaliate which prompted the NPA rebels to escape, dragging their wounded comrades as evidenced by scattered bloodstains along the route.

“Our wounded soldiers were all safely evacuated from the encounter site and were already out of danger after their treatment at the Abra provincial hospital,” Soriano said.