Manila - Philippine security forces on Tuesday arrested a Bangladeshi national suspected of being a terrorist and seized two homemade bombs in his rented apartment in a southern province, a police report said.

A joint police and military team arrested the suspect, identified as Muhammad Alpariz, in Shariff Kabunsuan town in Maguindanao province, 930 kilometres south of Manila, based on a warrant issued by a local judge.

The police report said Alpariz was believed to be a member of the regional Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group and an expert in making homemade bombs.

Manila - Communist rebels released on Monday a video of an army officer captured during a clash in the southern Philippines last month, a guerrilla statement said.

The video showed First Lieutenant Vicente Cammayo telling his wife not to worry because he was being treated well by his captors.

Cammayo was captured in combat on November 7 in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley province, 930 kilometres south of Manila. Two soldiers were killed in the clash.

Rigoberto Sanchez, a spokesman for the rebels, said the guerrillas were also holding a police officer taken prisoner after a separate attack in nearby Davao Oriental province.

Manila  - Three communist rebels were killed and three soldiers wounded in combat in the northern Philippines, police said Sunday.

The clash erupted in the village of Anupol in Bamban town in Tarlac province, 75 kilometres north of Manila, on Friday.

Chief Superintendent Leon Nilo Dela Cruz, a regional police director, said the soldiers were on patrol when they encountered about 40 guerrillas.

He said checkpoints were established in Bamban and nearby towns in a bid to hunt down the guerrillas.

Manila  - A German tourist was found dead inside his hotel room in a central Philippine city and authorities were suspecting foul play, a police report said Saturday.

Guido Dauerer, 43, was found dead Friday in the bathroom of his hotel room in Dumaguete City, in Negros Oriental province, 525 kilometres south of Manila.

The report said a maid saw the bed covered with blood and called other hotel employees and police.

Investigators found the body of the victim, face down and hunched over the toilet bowl. There were lacerations on his left arm.

The victim, who was a regular visitor in Dumaguete, checked into the hotel on November 21.

Manila  - Philippine troops have overran a communist rebel camp used by the guerrillas to make homemade bombs in the country's troubled south, an army commander said Friday.

One soldier was wounded in the raid on the mountain camp in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley province, 930 kilometres south of Manila, on Thursday, according to Major General Jogy Leo Fojas.

Fojas said troops swooped down on the area after military intelligence confirmed reports of civilians that guerrillas were holding camp there.

He said materials used in making improvised bombs and landmines were seized from the camp after the guerrillas abandoned the encampment.