DAVAO CITY, Philippines - At least three policemen were wounded in an ambush by members of the leftist rebel group New People's Army (NPA) in southern Philippines on Thursday, a police official said Friday.

Supt. Martin Gamba, spokesman of the Caraga regional police office, said the victims and members of an anti-illegal logging agency were waylaid by suspected NPA guerrillas along the national road in San Vicente village, Barobo town in Surigao del Sur.

Gamba said the three injured policemen were part of the nine-man police team that escorted members of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office. They were on their way to check on reports of illegally-cut logs in Lianga town when they were attacked.

He said a brief firefight between the police and the NPA rebels ensued. The attackers are now being pursued by government security forces.

The 4,000-strong NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting an insurgency in 60 Philippine provinces since 1969.