MANILA, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Three suspected rebels have been killed in a series of clashes with government troops in Northern Samar province in the central Philippines, the Philippine military said Monday.

In a report, the military said the three New People's Army (NPA) rebels were slain during gunfights that started around 6 a.m. local time in Mapnas town on Sunday.

Troops recovered two M16 rifles, an anti-personnel mine, and assorted ammunition from the encounter sites, the report added.

No government soldier was killed or wounded in the fighting.

NPA rebels have been fighting against government troops since 1969.

Military data showed that the NPA's personnel strength has declined since its peak of around 25,000 armed members in the 1980s.

Despite its dwindling fighters, the NPA continues to launch small-scale attacks in the countryside. Enditem

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