MANILA, Philippines — Philippine soldiers killed three communist rebels in a clash early Friday in a province north of the capital, bringing the number of guerrillas who have died in combat in the past month to at least 23, the military said.
The three New People's Army fighters were part of a 12-man team that clashed with soldiers in Dona Remedios Trinidad township in Bulacan province, said 703rd Brigade commander Col. Henry Sabarre.
The guerrillas fired on the troops as they approached to check reports by villagers of armed men in the area, about 70 kilometers (45 miles) north of Manila, Sabarre said.
He said bloodstains along the route taken by the guerrillas who fled indicated they suffered more casualties.
Sabarre's troops killed six high-ranking guerrillas in nearby Tarlac province last week, also following reports from villagers.
At least 14 other guerrillas have been killed in clashes around the country since last month. One soldier has died.
On Thursday, the rebels set off a land mine and wounded five soldiers in an ambush in southern Agusan del Sur province. The rebels withdrew after a 10-minute firefight, a local army spokesman said.
Norway-brokered talks on ending the 44-year rebellion, one of Asia's longest-running insurgencies, collapsed two years ago because of disagreement on the release of jailed Communist Party leaders. Recent efforts to revive the talks failed after the rebels refused to accept a cease-fire before any substantial agreement is reached.
