Manila - Two boys were killed while playing with a hand grenade in their house in a northern Philippine province, a police report said Monday.

Manila  - Communist rebels in the Philippines said Friday they expect more people to join the decades-old insurgency movement as they suffer "terrible" hardships brought about by the global financial crisis.

In a message marking the 40th anniversary of the foundation of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), founding chairman Jose Maria Sison said the rebel group already had "tens of thousands" of members but more were needed for "gigantic tasks ahead."

Manila - A strong quake rocked the southern Philippines on Thursday, causing panic among some residents, but no casualties or damage were reported, an official said.

Manila  - The Philippine government Wednesday warned against possible terrorist attacks while the predominantly Catholic country celebrates Christmas and urged the public to be vigilant.

Presidential Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said security forces had received information "a few months back" on plans by terrorist groups to launch attacks during the holidays.

He said the government had been preparing since then for possible terrorist attacks.

"We don't want to take chances, whether there is information or not, we are assuming there are people who want to create trouble."

Kidapawan City, Philippines  - Communist rebels ambushed an army vehicle in the southern Philippines, wounding two soldiers, a military commander said Wednesday.

The attack occurred on Tuesday in Binoongan village in Arakan town, North Cotabato province, 960 kilometres south of Manila, said Colonel Melfredo Melegrito.

Melegrito said the soldiers were responding to reports that a group of communist rebels had attacked a banana plantation in the village.

"But they were ambushed along the highway, leaving two of our soldiers wounded," he said. "The wounded included an army officer."

Manila  - More than a year after escaping his military captors, Raymond Manalo still has nightmares about gushing water pummelling his face, combat boots cracking his ribs and the dark cage-like room where he was chained for more than a month.

"I did not expect to live a minute longer," the 28-year-old farmer told Deutsche Press-Agentur, dpa, recalling his 18-month captivity in various military camps in the Philippines. "The pain is numbing, but the numbness was only a prelude to more pain."

Manalo and his brother Reynaldo, 38, were among more than 200 victims of forced disappearances under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo since
2001.