Manila  - One government soldier and two communist rebels were killed Sunday in separate incidents in the southern Philippines, the military said.

An army sergeant was killed when a military truck hit a rebel landmine in Panabo City in Davao del Norte province, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Major General Raymundo Ferrer, a regional military commander, said three soldiers were also wounded in the blast.

He said the troops were on their way to Paquibato district in Davao City to conduct preparations for a humanitarian mission.

Manila  - Two communist rebels were killed Sunday in a clash with government troops in a southern Philippine province, an army spokesman said.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said the combat occurred in a village in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte province, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Brawner said the military suffered no casualties.

Troops recovered three rifles and the bodies of the slain rebels after the firefight, he said.

Manila  - A fugitive, wanted for allegedly raping his housemaid more than a year ago, was arrested in an eastern city while placing a bet in the Philippines biggest lottery jackpot ever, a police report said Saturday.

The report said Ariel Ayque, 52, was arrested late Friday while placing his bet in a lottery outlet in Naga City, 200 kilometres south-east of Manila.

Ayque was accused of raping his housemaid in November 2007 and a local judge issued a warrant for his arrest in March 2008, it said.

Manila  - For the past three weeks, Filipinos from all walks of life and ages nationwide have been dreaming of the same thing: winning the biggest prize ever in Philippine lottery.

The Superlotto jackpot was estimated to reach a staggering 320 million pesos (6.6 million dollars) by Sunday after several winner-less draws since last month, according to the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO).

Tokyo  - Three Filipino passengers were seriously injured and more than 30 others suffered minor injuries Friday in turbulence encountered by a Northwest Airlines flight headed to Japan, media repo

Manila  - Twenty people were arrested Thursday in anti-drug operations in a town and a city outside the Philippine capital, a regional police chief said.

Twelve suspected drug dealers and users were arrested in separate raids in the resort town of Pagsanjan in Laguna province, 40 kilometres south of Manila, Chief Superintendent Perfecto Palad said.

Palad said another eight suspected drug dealers and users were arrested in near-simultaneous raids in the nearby city of San Pablo.