MANILA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine military said on Monday that three troops were killed while two others wounded after a firefight against suspected rebels in the northern Philippines.

Isagani Nato, the spokesman of Armed Forces of the Philippines Northern Luzon Command, said the clash with the suspected leftist rebels erupted on Sunday afternoon in a town and lasted for about three hours.

Nato told the media that the location of the clash was in Besao town of Mountain Province, around 280 km north of Manila.

"The intense firefight resulted in the death of three and wounding of two soldiers on the government side, while undetermined casualties on the enemy side," he said.

The military declined to name the slain and wounded soldiers, pending the notification of their kins.

Nato said the government troops would remain relentless in pursuing the rebels.