TAGUM CITY, Philippines -- Two suspected New People’s Army rebels were killed when they tried to storm the house of a businessman in New Corella town, Davao del Norte on Saturday, police said.

One of the businessman’s relatives single-handedly fended off some 50 communist guerrillas, sparking a fierce gun battle that also left five of the attackers wounded.

The attack happened at 4:30 a.m. in Mesaoy village, according to Chief Inspector Dioscoro Polestico, municipal police chief.

A report from the New Corella police revealed the rebels led by a certain Ka Wendell of the NPA’s Front 33 onboard a hijacked truck swooped down on the house of Efren Barte in Purok 1.

Upon jumping out of the truck, the rebels asked about the businessman but were not able to locate him.

Sensing danger, the businessman’s relative Sergio Mari Barte, took an M16 rifle and fired at the rebels, killing one and injuring several others, police said.

“The attackers retaliated and a five-minute firefight ensued before they withdrew,” Polestico said in his report.

Barte and other occupants of the house were unhurt, the report said.

The guerrillas then fled in the direction of Barangay (Village) New Bohol, dragging along their wounded comrades, police said.

Senior Supt. Jose Pante, Davao del Norte police director, said police and elements from the Army’s 3rd Special Forces Company gave chase but failed to catch up with the rebels.

Police recovered the body of one of the slain rebels near the house of the Bartes, while another rebel was found dead by pursuing troops at the vicinity of Sitio Kapatagan, in New Bohol, apparently left behind by his fleeing comrades.

The second dead rebel was identified by police as Segundo Ukay, who had surrendered to the authorities in 2008.

Also recovered from the slain rebels were an M16 rifle, several fully loaded magazines and one round of rifle grenade.

The military is continuing its pursuit operations against the rebels while police are investigating the attack.