AN army soldier was wounded during an intense clash with a large band of New People's Army (NPA) rebels in the hinterland village in Nagcanasan, Pilar, Abra, on Tuesday, April 2.

Maj. Bryan Albano of the Civil Military Operation of the Philippine Army's 501st Infantry Brigade identified the wounded trooper as Cpl. Markson Tadeo, a resident of Pilar town in Abra province.

He said the encounter erupted after the government forces intercepted a group of NPA rebels led by a still unidentified militia leader of the Bagong Hukbong Bayan ng Partido Komunista ng Pilipinas at the forested ridges of Barangay Nagcanasan at 11:50 a.m. on Tuesday, April 2.

Albano said they are verifying reports that some members of the rebel group died.

Albano said ground forces engaged the rebel group in a daylong heavy fighting and relentless pursuit operation against the retreating rebels at the boundary of Ilocos Norte.

During the fighting, residents in Barangay Nagcanasan and Barangay Babal-Lasioan, Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, fled to safer ground.

The rebels belong to the Komiteng Larangan Guerrillas North Abra (KLG North Abra). They were first monitored at the boundaries of Abra, Kalinga and Apayao.

Albano said the terrorists operating in Abra are trying to seek sanctuary in the Ilocos Region after it was declared insurgency-free.

However, Albano said government forces will block any attempt by the rebels to cross to the mountain ranges of Ilocos Region to seek cover from the relentless military campaign.

"There's no way they (NPA rebels) can traverse to Ilocos Region as residents would always reject NPA presence," Albano said.

Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Melchor de la Cruz, commander of the 501st Infantry Brigade, vowed to neutralize the remaining rebels.