Manila - Three communist rebels were killed Tuesday in a clash with government troops in an eastern Philippine province, an army spokesman said. Major Armand Rico said soldiers were dispatched to a remote village in Palapag town in Northern Samar province, 465 kilometres south-east of Manila, to check on reports of rebel extortion.

The firefight erupted when the soldiers caught up with at least 40 rebels, Rico said.

"Reports of the rebels' extortion in the community were frequent so we sent troops to respond, resulting in the firefight," he said.

Rico said soldiers recovered the bodies of the three slain rebels, an M16 rifle and a Carbine rifle during clearing operations.

Intelligence reports also indicate that five rebels were wounded, he added.

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)