MANILA, July 29 -- A total of 831 New People's Army (NPA) communist insurgents and their supporters were "neutralized" by government forces from Jan. 1 to July 23 this year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) announced late Tuesday.

Of the total, 736 of the individuals surrendered, 34 were apprehended, and 61 were killed in military operations, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said in a press briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Neutralized is a military term that refers to the surrender, capture, or killing of enemy troops.

During the same period, 588 assorted firearms and 244 anti-personnel mines were either surrendered or seized, and 30 NPA encampments were also captured.

"Bawat baril na na-recover ay isan...