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

The combat occurred in Montevista town in Compostela Valley province, 960 kilometres south of Manila, according to Major Armand Rico.

Rico said the soldiers also recovered three assault rifles left behind by the fleeing rebels.

He said government troops did not suffer any casualties.

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