Manila  - Two communist rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in the Philippines, an army commander said Thursday.

The firefight occurred Wednesday the village of Taliptip in Meycauayan town in Bulacan province, just north of Manila.

Brigadier General Arturo Ortiz, commander of the army special forces regiment, said troops were on combat patrol when they encountered a group of rebels.

Ortiz said troops killed two rebels during the fighting, including a finance and logistics officer of the communist rebel's front in Bulacan province.

No one was hurt among the government troops.

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)