Cotabato City, Philippines - Six communist rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said Saturday.

Major Randolph Cabangbang said the fighting erupted Friday when soldiers encountered an undetermined number of guerrillas is the outskirts of Tulunan town in North Cotabato province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Cabangbang said among the fatalities was a guerrilla commander identified as Felix Amodia. He said Amodia's body was turned over to the local officials.

"The bodies of the five other slain guerrillas have been taken by their comrades," he said, adding that more troops have been dispatched to pursue the fleeing rebels.

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