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.

One soldier was also wounded and two rebels captured after the firefight, Yano said.

On Thursday, seven soldiers were hurt in a landmine explosion in the district of Paquibato in Davao City, 990 kilometres south of Manila.

Regional military spokesman Major Randolph Cabangbang said the troops were aboard a military vehicle that hit a landmine planted by communist rebels in the middle of the road.

"No firefight took place," he said. "The soldiers were on their way to the district to conduct civil-military operations and dialogue with the residents."

In South Cotabato province, three police officers were wounded when some 40 communist guerrillas swooped down on the police station in Tampakan town on Thursday evening.

The rebels fired high-powered weapons and lobbed grenades at the station, wounding the three officers, provincial police director Superintendent Robert Kiunisala said.

A civilian was also hit by stray bullets, he said.

"Our men were able to fire their guns but three of them were wounded," he said.

Kiunisala said the rebels also raided th Bureau of Fire Protection's office in Tampakan, and seized three guns, laptops and personal belongings of personnel.

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)