Manila - One government soldier and two communist rebels were killed Tuesday in a clash in an eastern Philippine province, a regional military spokesman said.

One soldier and two civilians were also wounded in the firefight in the village of Pagsangahan in General Nakar town in Quezon province, 75 kilometres east of Manila.

Major Randolph Cabangbang said the clash erupted when army troops encountered a group of 20 guerrillas while on combat patrol in the village.

Cabangbang said troops captured one rebel and recovered three rifles after the firefight.

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)