One communist rebel was killed in a clash with government troops in an eastern Philippine province, a regional army spokesman said Saturday, dpa reported.
The fighting erupted late Friday when patrolling army troopers encountered about 20 guerrillas in Jipapad town in Eastern Samar province, 615 kilometres south-east of Manila, according to Lieutenant Colonel Armand Rico.
Rico said troops also recovered two assault rifles left behind by the fleeing rebels.
Communist guerrillas have been fighting the government since the late 1960s, making the movement one of the longest-running leftist insurgencies in Asia.