Cotabato City, Philippines - Thirteen Muslim separatist rebels were killed while two soldiers were hurt in separate clashes in the southern Philippines, the military said Tuesday.

It said 10 guerrillas from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were killed Tuesday in a firefight in Mamasapano town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Manila  - Philippine share prices plunged 3.42 per cent on Tuesday on news of massive job cuts and more economies falling into recession due to the global slump.

The 30-share composite index of the Philippine Stock Exchange lost 66.40 points to close at 1,873.60, from Monday's finish of 1,940.00.

A total of 751.83 million shares worth 1.20 billion pesos (24.48 million dollars) were traded.

Losers led gainers 85 to 8, while 26 issues were unchanged.

Traders said investor sentiments were dampened by reports that Citigroup, the second largest US bank, cut 52,000 jobs in a bid to save itself.

Manila  - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was caught off guard on Tuesday when her press secretary prayed for a possible extension of her term beyond 2010 as lawmakers debated on an impeachment complaint against her.

Arroyo and her cabinet often start their meetings with a prayer, which is led by different officials.

But the prayer by Press Secretary Jesus Dureza shocked Arroyo for touching on a sensitive political issue, with many critics warning of alleged plans for the president to hold on to power beyond the end of her term in 2010.

"We pray for the president, that she may have forbearance, good health and tolerance to lead this nation until 2010, and who knows, perhaps even beyond," Dureza said.

Manila  - Remittances from overseas Filipinos rose 17.1 per cent in the first nine months of the year despite a slowdown in major economies in the world, the government said Tuesday.

The central bank said remittances totalled 12.27 billion dollars from January to September, compared to 10.47 billion dollars in the same period last year.

In September alone, overseas Filipinos sent home 1.33 billion dollars, up 16.9 per cent from 1.13 billion dollars from a year ago.

Cotabato City, Philippines  - Three Muslim separatist rebels were killed while two soldiers were hurt in a clash in the southern Philippines, a military spokesman said Tuesday.

The firefight occurred on Sunday in the village of Malingaw in Shariff Aguak town, Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila, according to Major Randolph Cabangbang.

Cabangbang said soldiers were on patrol in the village when they encountered a group of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels, triggering the clash.

Manila - The Philippine government on Monday called for stepped-up security in dangerous waters off Somalia, where 90 Filipino seafarers were being held captive by pirates in separate hijacking incidents.

The call came after pirates seized a freighter, with 23 crew members, including 18 Filipinos.

Presidential deputy spokesman Lorelei Fajardo said the government was exhausting all means to free the 90 Filipinos still in captivity off Somalia.

The Philippine government "has been continuously calling for increased security in these dangerous waters, areas which have been declared risk zones," she said.

"The Philippine government will do all it can to secure the release of our seamen," she added.