THE government forces have discovered another arms cache of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the hinterlands of Sarangani province, the military reported Sunday, March 1.
Lieutenant Colonel Ezra Balagtey, Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) spokesperson said the arms cache was discovered by the troops of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion on Saturday, February 29, at Sitio Salyan in the village of Sapu Masla, Malapatan, Sarangani.
Balagtey said the arms cache was discovered following revelation of a certain Ka Tarzan, an NPA rebel, who surrendered to the 73rd Infantry Battalion on Thursday, February 27.
Balagtey said the arms cache, which is the second to be discovered last week, consisted of two M-16 Armalite rifles and one AK-47 assault rifle.
The first arms cache, containing one AK-47 and one Garand rifle, was discovered on February 25 at Sitio Mahayag in the village of Upper Suyan, Malapatan.
Balagtey said that one the same date, the Army’s 66th Infantry Battalion discovered an arms cache, containing 11 firearms, in an isolated area of Sitio Danawan, Manurigao village, New Bataan, Davao de Oro.
The official added that on Friday, February 28, the Army’s 88th Infantry Battalion seized an arms cache at Sitio Pantaron in the village of Banlag, Valencia City.
He said the arms cache contained seven shotguns, one Garand rifle, improvise explosive device (IED) fashion out as a landmine, detonating cords, four caliber.38 revolvers, various ammunitions, and a two-way handheld radio.
He said the use of a landmine is prohibited under the International Humanitarian Law.
On February 25, the troops of the Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion have recovered an IED, one US-made Springfield rifle, and subversive documents at Sitio Ulingan, Manobo village, Magpet, North Cotabato.
The Eastmincom attributes the series of discovery of arms cache to the continuous dwindling of NPA rebels in the Eastern side of Mindanao. (SunStar Philippines)