Manila  - Three communist rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in the eastern Philippines, a regional military spokesman said Monday.

Eight soldiers were also wounded in the fighting on Sunday in Silvino Lobos town in Northern Samar province, 430 kilometres south-east of Manila, according to Lieutenant Colonel Armand Rico.

Rico said the fighting erupted when patrolling troops encountered about 50 guerrillas in a forested area in the village of Hibunawan.

All the eight wounded soldiers were safely airlifted to the military camp and immediately brought to a nearby hospital for treatment, Rico added.

More troops have been dispatched to the area to conduct pursuit operations.

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