TROOPS have discovered a firearms cache of the New People's Army (NPA) following a tip from residents in the hinterlands of Zamboanga del Sur, officials said Tuesday, August 27.
Lieutenant Colonel Ray Tiongson, Army's 10th Infantry Battalion commander, said the firearms cache was discovered around 8 a.m. Tuesday, August 27, in the village of Pelukuban, Tambulig, Zamboanga del Sur.
Tiongson said the firearms cache, which consisted of two M-16 Armalite and two M-14 assault rifles, as well as eight empty magazines for M-14, was discovered through "valuable information from the residents in the area."
Colonel Leonel Nicolas, Army's 102nd Infantry Brigade commander, said the discovery of the arms cache is another big blow to the NPA's Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee.
This, as Nicolas noted the discovery came two days after troops from the Army's 10th Infantry Battalion backed by policemen killed in two separate clashes an NPA leader and captured seven other ranking members in Ozamiz City.
The troops have also recovered an M-16 Armalite rifle, four caliber .45 pistols, seven grenades, three motorcycles, bomb-making components, P50,000 extortion money, and foodstuffs.
"The residents of the communities, whom they've terrorized are now against them and now supportive to our troops," said Nicolas, whose command has operational jurisdiction over Zamboanga del Sur.
Meanwhile, Major General Roberto Ancan, Army's 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of the troops and the brave residents who reported the location of NPA's arms cache.
"Peace and security is a shared responsibility," Ancan said, adding: "We recognized the bold move of the residents who choose to seek serenity in their community despite their dark experience with the NPAs." (SunStar Philippines)