Army recovers firearms in Tinglayan, Kalinga

MEMBERS of the Regional Public Safety Battalion and 50th Infantry Battalion (IB) troops recovered assorted firearms and ammunitions during anti-criminality operations at Sitio Amfayaca, Barangay Luplupa, Tinglayan, Kalinga last Tuesday, September 12.

Prior to the recovery, Tinglayan police got a word from the community who alerted them about a gun burst at the disputed boundary between the Tongrayan and Tulgao tribes in the night of September 11.

Investigation revealed unidentified persons from the sub-tribes allegedly guarded the area and accidentally fired his firearm, which alarmed the community.

The assorted firearms and ammunitions were recovered in foxholes believed to be manned by members of the conflicting parties.

Recovered items were Bushmaster XM15F25 with scope, M14 Rifle, M16 rifle, M-79, 17 empty shell for M16, nine empty shell for M14, three empty shells for Cal. 30, seven short magazines for M-16, one long magazine of M-16, 118 ammunition for M-16, eight magazine of M-14, 285 ammunitions for M-14, 10 ammunition of 40mm, two bandoliers, a bandolier for M-203 40mm ammo, binocular, ICOM radio, and cellphone.

All recovered items are now under the custody of 50 IB for safekeeping except for the three high powered firearms which were turned over to Kalinga Provincial Police Office for firearms verification.

Government troops are conducting further investigation, intelligence monitoring and surveillance to determine and identify the owners of the recovered items. (Roderick Osis)