Manila: Two soldiers and one pro-government militia were killed when communist rebels launched two election-related attacks in northern and southern Luzon, raising to 60 the number of people slain ahead of the May 13 mid-term polls, sources said.

A local militia was killed and two soldiers were wounded when New People’s Army (NPA) attacked a government convoy that was also sending scanners at an elementary school in Agao-aoin Ragay town in Camarines Sur at 4:15 dawn of Thursday, Lt Col Michael Buhay, commanding officer of the 49th Infantry Battallion said in another radio interview.

The names of the casualties in the first NPA attack were not released.

Corporals Wilfredo Bacacao and Allen Pataguan were killed and six others, identified as Private first class Delfin Goyagoy, Staff Sgts Ricvo Delacuesta and Michael Adducil, Technical Sgts Herminigildo Vergara and Constante Alupani, and Sgts Wayne Aguinaldo were wounded when NPA members attacked a government convoy that was sending ballot scanners Balbalan town, near Tabuk City in mountainous northern Luzon at nine Thursday morning, Senior Superintendent Froilan Perez, police director of Kalinga Province said in a radio interview.

“The NPA rebels allowed the convoy of the Commission on Elections, members of the board of election inspectors and their police escorts to move on, but attacked the Army members of the convoy,” said Perez, adding that the civilians in the convoy were not hurt.

The scanners were being sent to various towns and villages in preparation for the May 13 congressional and local government elections.

Meanwhile, a grenade was lobbed at and exploded in front of the house of former Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez in Jaro, Iloilo City, central Philippines at past one, dawn of Thursday. Gonzales son, Raul jr is running for a seat at the House of Representatives.

At the same time, the NPA released Police Officer Maula Ali in Kidapawan, North Cotabato in southern Philippines on Wednesday afternoon. He was held captive at a roadblock established by the NPA in President Roxas town last April 19, said North Cotabato police director Danila Peralta.

Last month, the NPA killed two drivers and wounded two policemen who were with a mayor of a southern town.

More than 52 million voters will select from thousands of candidates who are vying for 300 seats at the senate and the house of representatives, and at the local government units.

The Philippine government has blamed the 4,000 strong NPA, the armed wing of the 44-year old Maoist inspired Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for demanding for election-permit fees from candidates for the May 13 elections.

Those who refused to pay were attacked, the military said.

Last week, President Benigno Aquino demanded that the NPA should stop its attacks as a condition for the continuation of peace talks with the communist National Democratic Front (NDF) which began in 1992.

Earlier, Aquino said he wanted to forge a peace settlement with the NDF before the end of his term in 2016.