More than 50 members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked the Mati City Police Station in Davao Oriental Sunday night.

According to SecurityMatters sources, the NPA rebels were aboard five motorcycles, two vans, and an elf truck, and clad in Army uniform when they entered the police station at around 7 p.m.

The rebels opened fire at the police officers manning the station but the cops retaliated and were able to defend the station from being completely taken over.

The rebels then retreated toward Brgy. Licup, also in Mati City. A gun battle ensued between responding troops from the Army’s Division Reconnaissance Company (DRC) and the fleeing rebels who lobbed two IEds at the troops, resulting to the death of two soldiers and one NPA rebel.

The slain soldiers were identified as Pfc. Daniel Damansila Jr. and Pvt. Ryan M. Amigo, both from the Army’s 104th DRC.

The wounded were identified as Pfc. Logronio, Pfc. Castillo, Pfc. Resuelo, Pfc. Caminero, and Pfc. Babiera, all from 104DRC. The wounded troops were brought to Tagum Regional Hospital and Mati Provincial Hospital.

Meanwhile, another soldier, identified as Sgt. Adel Lucunan from the 67th Infantry Battalion, was killed when he passed by an NPA checkpoint in the vicinity of St. Camillus Hospital. Lucunan was aboard a motorcycle and wearing civilian clothes when he was killed.