Manila - Three soldiers and one communist rebel were killed in separate clashes between government troops and the guerrillas in the Philippines, a military report said Friday.

The three soldiers were killed when communist rebels waylaid a group of troops conducting a civil-military mission in Pinukpuk town in Kalinga province, 330 kilometres north of Manila, on Wednesday.

There were no reported casualties on the enemy side.

On Thursday, a communist rebel was killed by government troops conducting combat operations in Mauban town in Quezon province, 90 kilometres south-east of Manila.

The firefight in Mauban lasted for about 30 minutes and soldiers were able to seize a guerrilla encampment in the area.

Troops also recovered landmines during the operation.

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)