TROOPS have seized food cache of the New People's Army (NPA) rebels in a remote village of Zamboanga del Norte, the military reported Friday, February 18, 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Nolasco Coderos Jr., 97th Infantry Battalion (IB) commander, said the food cache, composed of 12 sealed 30-liter plastic containers, was discovered Sunday, February 13, in Nuevavista village, Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte.
Coderos said the location of the hidden food cache was established by the troops, who were on combat patrol, based on the information provided them by an NPA surrenderer, who recently surrendered to the government.
The troops on combat patrol were composed of personnel from the 97IB and 42IB.
"These captured food supplies belong to the Weakened Guerilla Front BBC (Big Beautiful Country), WMRPC (Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee), the remaining Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte," Coderos said.
"Our main goal is to neutralize all CTG members in the Province of Zamboanga del Norte either by peaceful surrender or not, but I urge them to choose to surrender as long as they've time because of this development they may be starving to death or in an encounter against our troops," Coderos added.
The recovered food cache of the NPA was placed under the custody of the 97IB for safekeeping and proper disposition. (SunStar Zamboanga)