Manila: Communist rebels ambushed an army convoy in the southern Philippines with land mines and machine-gun fire today, killing three soldiers and wounding 13.
Two army trucks carrying troops back to barracks from a combat operation hit several land mines along a highway in President Roxas town in North Cotabato province, army Maj. Lyndon Panesa said in a telephone interview.
About 20 New People's Army rebels then opened fire on the soldiers from the side of the road, killing three and wounding at least 13, Panesa said.
Before reaching the ambush site, one of the trucks broke down, forcing the convoy to stop. Panesa said he suspected a villager tipped off the rebels because the convoy came under attack farther down the road.
Panesa said troops were scouring the area for a wounded rebel who was apparently left behind after the clash. "We will finish this fight. We will not let down," he said.
The rebels withdrew from peace talks in 2004 after accusing the government of instigating their inclusion on US and European Union terrorist lists.
The Philippine military chief, Gen. Hermogenes Esperon, said last month the armed forces were on track to crush the insurgency in two years.
He said the number of rebel fighters dropped from 5,781 in December 2007 to 5,470 so far this year because of battlefield losses, surrenders and desertions.
The rebels have waged a rural-based insurrection, attacking police and military outposts and surviving on the collection of so-called "revolutionary taxes" from companies in areas where they operate.
