The Philippine army chief says troops killed four communist guerrillas in a clash in a northern province.
Lt. Gen. Arturo Ortiz says the army suffered no casualties in the encounter early Thursday in Cagayan province's Baggao township.
He says troops recovered two assault rifles and a shotgun from the site of the clash. Soldiers aided by canine trackers are pursuing the New People's Army rebels.
It was the latest setback for the rebels since losing eight fighters two weeks earlier in northern Abra province.
Guerrillas have seized dozens of firearms this month in separate raids on three mining companies and a banana plantation in the southern Philippines.
Norwegian-brokered peace negotiations to end the decades-old insurgency have stalled.