A wounded policeman is carried by his colleagues in Binuangan, Misamis Oriental after their police station was attacked by suspected members of the New People's Army, December 3, 2017. Photo courtesy of Ivan Tagam

MANILA - Four policemen were wounded after the municipal police station of Binuangan, Misamis Oriental was attacked by armed men, believed to be members of the New People's Army early Sunday morning.

Police station Officer-in-Charge Senior Insp. Dante Hallazgo, SPO1 Ramonito Sambas, PO1 Josua Satur and PO3 Alberto Bernadas were wounded in the firefight which lasted 2 hours.

"After the we rang our hourly bell at 3 o'clock in the morning, it was followed by gun fires coming from different directions outside the station," said Hallazgo.

The Binuangan police station is riddled with bullet holes following the attack by suspected members of the New People's Army, December 3, 2017. Photo courtesy of Ivan Tagam

PNP 10 Regional Director Chief Supt. Timoteo Pacleb estimated that the attackers numbered around 60 to 100.

Pacleb said the attack was the NPA's response to the breakdown of the peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front.

"The PNP strongly condemns the attack. It only shows that the NPA are not just rebels but also terrorists," said Pacleb.

PNP and army troops are continuing pursuit operations against the rebels who immediately fled, reportedly on board five vehicles.

PNP Region 10 Spokesperson Supt. Lemuel Gonda told radio DZMM that military and police troops need to take precautions against a possible ambush by the NPA, who have been known to use landmines against state security forces.

The PNP has directed its forces in the entire region to remain on full alert. - with a report from Rod Bolivar, ABS-CBN News