Manila, Rabi'II 25, 1437, February 04, 2016, SPA -- Three soldiers were killed in clashes with communist rebels in the southern Philippines, an army brigade commander said Thursday, according to dpa. Four troops were also wounded in the fighting Wednesday in Pantukan town in Compostela Valley province, 990 kilometres south of Manila, said Colonel Alberto Macairog. The first firefight erupted when troops encountered a group of around 60 guerrillas while on patrol in the village of Tibagon, Macairog said. The guerrillas detonated a homemade bomb as they escaped, killing two soldiers and wounding two others, he added. Hours later, a separate band of rebels opened fire at patrol troops in the nearby village of Napnapan, killing one soldiers and wounding two, Macairog said. --SPA 11:08 LOCAL TIME 08:08 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w