Manila - Five government soldiers were wounded in combat with communist rebels in an eastern Philippine province, an army spokesman said Thursday.

Major Armand Rico said the rebels also suffered "heavy casualties" in the firefights Wednesday in Bobon town in Northern Samar province, 450 kilometres south of Manila.

Rico said the soldiers were on combat patrol in the village of E Duran when they clashed with a group of 15 guerrillas.

Rico said troops also recovered rebel documents "of high intelligence value" after the fighting.

Communist rebels have been fighting the Philippine government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.(dpa)