MANILA — Philippine troops clashed with communist rebels early Thursday and killed eight guerrillas after villagers complained about being abused by them, officials said. Soldiers recovered firearms, explosives and grenade launchers after the fighting with New People's Army guerrillas in Sorsogon province southeast of Manila, said military public affairs chief Lt. Col. Ramon Zagala. He said that the troops suffered no casualties. According to Zagala, residents in Juban township complained to the military that the rebels have been extorting money and threatening them, which led to the clash. Talks to end the 44-year-old rural-based Maoist insurgency in the Philippines collapsed two years ago after the two sides disagreed over the release of jailed communist leaders. Recent efforts to revive the talks brokered by Norway failed after the rebels rejected an immediate cease-fire. — AP
