MANILA, Sept 26: Philippine troops have seized a major communist guerilla base on the troubled southern island of Mindanao, killing at least eight rebels in air and ground attacks, an army spokesman said on Friday.

Major Armand Rico said an undetermined number of rebels from the Maoist-led New People’s Army (NPA) were wounded in the attack on Wednesday at a forested area in Surigao del Sur province.

He said three soldiers were killed and 14 were wounded by land mines placed by the rebels near their hideout.

“Our troops have crippled the rebels’ ability to intimidate and harass communities and potential investors in the area,” Rico told reporters, adding local residents helped soldiers in locating the guerrilla base.

Fighting lasted for about three hours as troops encountered about 80 to 100 guerillas firing from fortified bunkers, Rico said. Two rocket-firing helicopters were sent to flush out the rebels.

The communist conflict, which started in the late 1960s, has killed more than 40,000 people and scared off investors in the resource-rich Philippines.

The 5,000-member NPA targets mines, plantations, and timber, construction and telephone companies to raise funds and disrupt the economy, burning property and equipment and seizing weapons and walkie talkies from private security guards.

In another part of the troubled island, nine Muslim rebels and a soldier were killed in a clash near marshland, bringing to 32 the number of people killed in about a week of fighting in the area, officials said.—Reuters