Manila - Three communist rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in the central Philippines, an army spokesman said Friday.

The firefight erupted Thursday while troops were on patrol in the village of Malungkay in Zamboanguita town, Negros Oriental province, about 675 kilometres south of Manila.

Lieutenant Colonel Romeo Brawner said troops recovered two M16 rifles and one M14 rifle after the clash.

No casualties were reported on the government side, he said.

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)