MANILA, Philippines—The military said at least 21 high-powered firearms had been seized from New People’s Army guerrillas as a result of separate counterinsurgency operations in Mindanao.
The separate operations were carried out in parts of Davao region and Zamboanga del Norte since May 1, the AFP said in a statement.
On May 4, Army soldiers from the 97th and 42nd Infantry Battalions clashed with at least 40 communist rebels in Zamboanga del Norte.
Following what the military said was a 45-minute gunfight in the town of Siayan, soldiers seized an M-60 machine gun, machine gun parts, three homemade bombs, AK47 magazines, ammunition, bandoliers, personal belongings and communist documents.
In Lupon, Davao de Oro, soldiers from the 66th Infantry Battalion seized an M60 machine gun, three M16 rifles, and one M14 rifle on May 1. The 67th Infantry Battalion, meanwhile, confiscated three M16 rifles and a US M2 Carbine rifle in Baganga, Davao Oriental on May 3.
After an encounter on May 3, the 67th Infantry Battalion found an arms cache in Cateel, Davao Oriental consisting of five M16 rifles, two AK47 rifles, M4 rifle, M203 Grenade Launcher, M14 rifle, and M653 rifle.
The AFP said the operations were a result of intelligence information provided by former rebels or residents in communities.
AFP Chief Felimon Santos Jr. was cited in the statement as commending the division and battalions involved in the operations “for their string of successes in degrading” rebel firepower.
“The seizure of high-powered firearms is a significant accomplishment against the enemy who continues to use arms to terrorize our communities and target innocent civilians,” he said.