Manila - Communist rebels raided a military outpost and seized a soldier in the southern Philippines, an army commander said Tuesday.

The guerrillas were disguised as soldiers when they attacked the army post late Monday in Monkayo town of Compostela Valley province, 945 kilometres south of Manila, according to Major General Reynaldo Mapagu.

Mapagu said the guerrillas captured Corporal Dominador Alegre and used him as human shield when entering the army base in Casoon village.

He said government paramilitary troops manning the outpost did not fight for fear Alegre might be harmed in the crossfire.

The guerrillas carted away 18 assault rifles and a two-way radio before fleeing into the forests, along with their hostage.

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)