Manila  - The Philippine defence secretary on Sunday told the military to strengthen its efforts against kidnapping following a series of abductions in the south, whose victims included three staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

"We must react against kidnapping very, very strongly and we really have to give the kidnappers no quarter," Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said.

Teodoro said the military must also step up the campaign against illegal firearms in areas affected by kidnappings.

Manila  - Two people were killed and 12 wounded in separate attacks by communist rebels in the southern Philippines, military and police officials said Friday.

Military chief General Alexander Yano said one soldier and one communist guerrilla were killed in a clash in Valencia City in Bukidnon province, 885 kilometres south of Manila, on Friday.

The firefight erupted when the rebels opened fire at a group of soldiers on patrol in the village of Tugaya.

Manila (dpa) - The death toll in a firecracker factory blast in the
Philippines rose to eight as rescuers continued to scour the rubble on
Friday in search for factory workers reported still missing, local
officials said.

   Forty-three people were wounded in the huge explosion on
Thursday in the sprawling compound of Starmaker Fireworks Factory in
Trece Martires town in Cavite province, 25 kilometres south of Manila,
according to town Mayor Melencio de Sagun.

   De Sagun said most of the wounded have been allowed to go home

Manila  - Ten government security forces and a civilian were wounded in separate attacks by communist rebels in the southern Philippines, military and police officials said Friday.

The first attack occurred in the district of Paquibato in Davao City, 990 kilometres south of Manila on Thursday, where a landmine explosion injured seven soldiers.

Regional military spokesman Major Randolph Cabangbang said the troops were aboard a military vehicle that hit a landmine planted by communist rebels on the roadside.

Manila  - The Philippine military said Thursday that the recent visit of a local official to three kidnapped staff of the International Committee of the Red Cross was "a step forward" in efforts to free them.

Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres, a military spokesman, said the visit also validated reports that the hostages - Swiss Andreas Notter, Italian Eugenio Vagni and Filipino Mary Jean Lacaba - were "still alive" and "not suffering."

Manila  - At least five people were killed in an explosion Thursday that rocked a firecracker factory just outside the Philippine capital, local officials said.

The blast occurred shortly before noon inside the Starmaker Fireworks factory in the village of Conchu in Trece Martires City in Cavite province, 25 kilometres south of Manila, according to Mayor Melencio de Sagun.

De Sagun said only two bodies of those killed remained intact while the other three bodies were found torn to pieces.