Manila - The Philippine government on Tuesday expressed confidence that its relationship with the United States would remain strong whoever wins the presidential race.

Manila - Two communist rebels were killed in a clash with government troops in an eastern Philippine province, an army spokesman said Tuesday.

Colonel Romeo Brawner said six other guerrillas were injured when soldiers raided their encampment in Las Navas town in Northern Samar province, 510 kilometres south-east of Manila.

Brawner said government troops seized the rebel camp which consisted of 30 bunkers and four thatched huts.

Manila - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Tuesday it has approved a 70-million-dollar loan for a new project to improve the lives and incomes of poor farmers in the conflict-wracked southern Philippines.

The Manila-based bank said the Agrarian Reform Communities Project II will allocate 135.2 million dollars for rural infrastructure projects and 25.2 million dollars for agriculture and enterprise development.

Cotabato City, Philippines - At least nine Muslim rebels were killed in two days of fighting in the southern Philippines, a regional army operations officer said Monday.

Captain Louie Aguinaldo said the fighting erupted Sunday afternoon and lasted until Monday morning in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Aguinaldo said Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels attempted to return to their camp that was occupied by soldiers, triggering an intense firefight.

"There were many bloodstains in the MILF position, which was hit by our cannons," he said. "We got reports that at least nine MILF rebels were killed in the fighting."

Manila - Philippine share price

Manila - Communist rebels raided on Monday a police station in the central Philippines, wounding an officer and seizing firearms, a police report said.

The raid occurred before dawn in the police station of La Libertad town in Negros Oriental province, 630 kilometres south of Manila.

Two female communist rebels first entered the police station pretending to report a crime. They were followed by four heavily armed guerrillas that fired at the police officers.

The rebels were able to open the armory and carted away at least five firearms before fleeing to the jungles.

Troops have been dispatched to the area to pursue the rebels.