Manila - Philippine troops killed five communist rebels in a clash after the guerrillas burned down a military outpost in an eastern province, the police and military said Wednesday.

A soldier was wounded in the firefight Tuesday in Sipocot town in Camarines Sur province, 300 kilometres south-east of Manila, said Inspector Ayn Natuel, a regional police spokesman.

Natuel said about 50 communist rebels raided a military outpost in the village of Lubigan, seizing 10 rifles. Before fleeing, the rebels set the detachment on fire.

Major Chris Morales said government militiamen tried to defend the outpost, but were outnumbered by the rebels.

Additional troops were dispatched to augment the militiamen, but they were too late after their two vehicles were struck by a landmine on their way to the village, Morales said.

"But our forces chased the rebels, and an ensuring clash led to the death of five enemies," he added. "Pursuit operations are ongoing for the other perpetrators."

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