Manila - Communist rebels tortured and killed an army soldier they had abducted in the southern Philippines, an army spokesman said Sunday.

The body of Staff Sergeant Rolen Maglangit was found Saturday evening in Pasian village in Monkayo town in Compostela Valley, 930 kilometres south of Manila.

"The victim has several gunshot wounds in different parts of his body and indications of torture were also visible," said Major Michele Anayron, an army spokesman.

Anayron said Maglangit was abducted on May 22 when he passed by an illegal checkpoint set up by communist rebels in Monkayo town.

He said the victim had been assigned to confirm reports that communist rebels were harassing civilians in Monkayo.

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)