Manila, Dhu-AlQa'dah 12, 1432, Oct 10, 2011, SPA - Eight Communist rebels and one soldier were killed Monday in a clash in the northern Philippines, said the Army Chief, Lieutenant General Arturo Ortiz The fighting erupted when patrolling troops encountered an undetermined number of guerrillas in Tineg town in Abra province, 330 kilometres north of Manila. Lieutenant General Ortiz said troops recovered eight assault rifles from the dead rebels, according to a report of the German Press Agency "DPA". "Sporadic fighting is still ongoing," he said, adding that a helicopter gunship was dispatched to the area to reinforce the ground troops. --SPA 15:15 LOCAL TIME 12:15 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/932862