BUTUAN CITY – Three soldiers of the 29th Infantry Battalion (IB) were killed in an ambush and a landmine attack by suspected New People’s Army rebels in Agusan del Norte on Thursday.
The soldiers, who have yet to be identified, died at the scene.
Another soldier, who was believed kidnapped by the rebels, is missing.
The military said the communist guerrillas also seized the high-powered firearms of the soldiers.
Lt. Andrei Colagong, 29th IB spokesman, said the soldiers were on their way back to the camp after conducting combat operations in Sitio Kaunlaran, Barangay San Antonio in Remedios Romualdez town when they were attacked by around 200 rebels.
Authorities said residents in the area could be supporting the communists and deliberately failed to inform goverment troopers on the presence of rebels.