Suspected communist insurgents ambushed a truck carrying police and village guards in an attack which left nine people dead and wounded at least six in the central Philippines on Sunday.

Suspected communist insurgents ambushed a truck carrying police and village guards in an attack which left nine people dead and wounded at least six in the central Philippines on Sunday, an official said.

The police and village guards were returning from securing a town festival in the central island of Negros before dawn when about 30 heavily-armed gunmen opened fire on them, said Chief Inspector Rico Santotome.

Among the dead were one policeman, six village guards, the wife of a guard and the driver of the truck, said the police spokesman.

Police suspect the communist New People's Army (NPA) is behind the attack in the rural mountain town of La Castellana -- one of the most violent assaults this year.

The government had hoped to revive peace talks with the insurgents, even declaring a Christmas season ceasefire with the guerrillas, but in recent weeks the NPA have stepped up attacks on rural businesses and security forces.

The Maoist rebels have been waging an armed rebellion to seize power since 1969 and more than 30,000 people have died in the conflict, according to the government.