TROOPS of the 105th Infantry Battalion (105IB) have unearthed the hidden war equipment of the New People's Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of South Cotabato province, the military said Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Lieutenant Colonel Erikzen Dacoco, 105IB commander, said the NPA's war equipment were dug up on Sunday, July 20, in Sitio Maughan, Barangay Tbolok, T'boli, South Cotabato.
Dacoco said the operation was launched after two former NPA rebels, who are now serving as militiamen under the 105IB, tipped off the troops about the hidden war materials. One of them is a former NPA leader who has long since abandoned the armed struggle.
"Because of their trust in the military and their desire to put an end to the violence caused by terrorism, they revealed that there are weapons and explosives buried in the area long ago, left behind by their former comrades," Dacoco said.
The arms cache that was unearthed contains two M16A1 rifles, four Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) capable of causing widespread damage, and a black bandolier containing four short steel magazines.
Brigadier General Michael Santos, 603rd Infantry Brigade commander, said that even before the recovery of the arms cache, the same two former rebels recovered two IEDs on July 10 and another two IEDs on July 15 -- proof of the continued cooperation of the former rebels with the government.
"The successful recovery of the war equipment is proof that the continued cooperation of our soldiers with the former rebels is effective," Santos said.
The recovered war equipment is now in the custody of the 105IB for proper documentation and disposition, in accordance with existing protocols of the Philippine Army.
Meanwhile, Major General Donald Gumiran, 6th Infantry Division and Joint Task Force-Central commander, lauded the success of the operation and the cooperation shown by the former NPA rebels.
Gumiran said it is a clear step toward achieving lasting peace in the region.
"We encourage other remaining members of the armed group to return to the folds of the law and join our cause of peace and development," he said. (SunStar Zamboanga)