Davao City (Philippines), Feb 16 (IANS):  Five people were killed following an attack by leftist rebels on a police station in the Philippines, authorities said Monday.

Two soldiers and an insurgent were killed in a gun battle Sunday after the New People's Army (NPA) militants attempted to seize the Mati City police station in Davao Oriental province around 7.30 p.m. local time, Xinhua reported, citing a spokesperson of the army.

Dozens of leftist rebels in military uniforms arrived at the station onboard a truck and started a firefight with policemen, the official said.

"(New People's Army) bandits attempted but failed to seize the police station. Police on duty defended their station and thwarted the attack," the spokesperson said, adding that troops from the army's 701st Infantry Brigade pursued the fleeing rebels that led to the death of the two soldiers and an insurgent.

The rebels detonated a landmine, killing the two soldiers and wounding five others.

A policeman and a rebel were also killed when NPA militants attacked policemen guarding the city bus terminal.

The 4,000-strong NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been fighting an insurgency in the country since 1969.