Seven alleged New People’s Army (NPA) fighters died during an armed encounter with the military in Uson, Masbate on Sunday morning, July 27.

The Philippine Army’s 9th Infantry Division (9ID) said troops from the 2nd Infantry Battalion engaged armed men believed to be members of the Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) South, Sub-Regional Committee (SRC)-4, Bicol Regional Party Committee (BRPC) around 6 a.m. in Barangay San Mateo.

The firefight lasted for about 30 minutes.

Major General Aldwine Almase, commander of 9ID, said the intensified focused military operation also led to the recovery of nine high-powered firearms, of which, four were M16 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, an M14 rifle, an M653 rifle, and a Bushmaster rifle.

Also retrieved from the fallen rebels were personal belongings and documents.

Meanwhile, no soldier was harmed in the operation.

“This successful operation delivers a major blow to the already weakening Communist Terrorist Group. However, the 9th Infantry Division emphasized that armed encounters are not the primary solution to insurgency,” he said.

He said the objective is the destruction of the remaining armed component of the NPA in the province through civil-military operations (CMO) and combat operations, which serve as the 9ID’s “left and right hand” in dealing with insurgency.

“Through combat operations, which serve as our right hand, we will destroy the remnants of the hard-headed [CTG]. For others who are willing to surrender, the CMO will work. The CMO must be, should be, and ought to be purposive, focused, and deliberate,” the official noted.