CAMP MELCHOR F. DELA CRUZ, Gamu, Isabela — At least three soldiers were confirmed killed while two others were wounded when they were ambushed by fully armed New People’s Army (NPA) rebels along the hinterlands in Barangay Mabaca, Balbalan, Kalinga province last Thursday morning.

It was also reported that an undetermined number of NPA rebels were wounded in the encounter.

Col. Remegio Devera, commander of the Army’s 501st Brigade operating in the Cagayan Valley provinces, said the identities of the slain and wounded soldiers, from the Army’s 21st Infantry Battalion, are still being withheld pending the delivery of information to their relatives.

According to Devera, the soldiers were on foot patrol while responding to an intelligence report they received from civilians about the presence of fully armed NPA rebels extorting food and money in Barangay Mabaca, Balbalan, Kalinga Province when they were ambushed.

During the exchange of gun fire, Devera said the soldiers were able to retaliate after gaining vantage position on the ground. They eventually overpowered the attacking NPA rebels.

“Sensing that they were overpowered by the soldiers, the NPA rebels immediately fled from the encounter site dragging their wounded comrades as evidenced by scattered blood stains in their escape routes,” Devera said.

“Our hot pursuit against these rebels in the mountainous areas in Kalinga and its nearby provinces is continuing,” he said.

Meanwhile, Col. Essel C. Soriano, commander of the army’s 503rd Brigade operating in Ilocos and Cordillera provinces, reported Friday that his troops recovered eight pieces of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or landmines last Feb. 2 at the forested area in Barangay Kili, Tubo, Abra.

According to Soriano, his troops were also conducting hot pursuit operations against a group of fully armed NPA rebels responsible in the ambush-slaying of five of his soldiers and wounding of at least 10 others in separate encounter in the forested areas in Barangay Kili, Tubo, Abra and Barangay Mataragan, Malibcong, Abra last Jan. 31.