MANILA, THE PHILIPINES - COMMUNIST rebels bombed a cellular phone relay tower in the southern Philippines town of Claver on Sunday, cutting off communication lines for thousands, the military said.

Troops launched a manhunt for the New People's Army (NPA) rebels who attacked the Globe Telecom facility, which was just a kilometre away from the nearest police outpost, the military said.

The military said thousands of subscribers were cut off from the network.

The 5,000-strong NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines which has been waging a Maoist rebellion since 1969. -- AFP