Legazpi City, July 28 -- Seven members of the New People's Army (NPA) were killed and nine high-powered firearms were seized during an armed encounter in Uson, Masbate on Sunday.

In a report on Monday, 9th Infantry Division (9ID) Public Affairs Office chief Maj. Frank Roldan said troops from the 2nd Infantry Battalion engaged the NPA members in a firefight for about 30 minutes.

Six out of seven were identified by their aliases -- Waren, Mayong, Alex, Tata, Ruwel and Rick.

Recovered from the encounter site were four M16 rifles, two M203 grenade launchers, one M14 rifle, one M653 rifle, one Bushmaster rifle, personal belongings and subversive documents.

"This successful operation delivers a major blow to the already weakening communist ...