Two leftist rebels were killed in a foiled attack on an army outpost in southern Philippines on Sunday, the military said on Monday.

Seven soldiers were also wounded and two rifles recovered following the encounter past noon in Maco town in Mindanao's Compostela Valley province, according to Lyndon Paniza, spokesperson of the army's 10th Infantry Division.

Paniza said about 60 heavily-armed New People's Army guerrillas stormed Calabcab village and attempted to break into the detachment of the peace and development team (PDT) of the 71st Infantry Battalion stationed there.

"Despite being outnumbered (the soldiers) were able to drive away the attackers," said Paniza, adding an unidentified civilians were also wounded in the crossfire.

The 4,000-strong NPA, armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is fighting a 43-year leftist insurgency in 60 Philippine provinces.