Manila: The Philippine military says communist rebels have fired on an army patrol in a forested village in the country's north, killing five and wounding 10 troops.
Army brigade commander Col. Essel Soriano says Sunday's clash also left an undetermined number of casualties on the rebel side.
He says the platoon was involved in humanitarian activities in Abra province when the rebels attacked, leaving five dead and eight wounded.
Hours earlier, in another part of Abra, a separate communist rebel attack wounded two soldiers.
The clashes are the latest flare-up of violence in the 40-year rural rebellion that has stunned economic development. The military says it would significantly reduce the rebel ranks this year.
