The troops were on their way to a remote village recently hit by a storm in the northern province of Ifugao when they were attacked Saturday, regional military spokesman Colonel Miguel Puyao told reporters.

"Along the way they encountered an undetermined (group of) local terrorists,triggering a five minute gunfight," Puyao said.

"Three soldiers were killed and four were wounded."Puyao said pursuit operations were ongoing.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack, but communist guerrillas waging a decades old rebellion are known to operate in the area. The army often brands communist rebels "terrorists".