Manila  - Two government militiamen were killed Monday in an attack by communist rebels in the eastern Philippines, a regional army spokesman said.

One soldier was also wounded in the pre-dawn attack in a district in Calbayog City in Samar province, 495 kilometres south-east of Manila.

Lieutenant Colonel Armand Rico said the militiamen and soldiers were performing community assistance in the district of Oquendo when they were attacked.

"Troops were able to return fire, inflicting undetermined number of casualty on the enemy side," Rico said.

Additional government forces were dispatched to hunt down the rebels.

Communist rebels have been fighting the Philippine government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies. (dpa)