The Philippine Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade disclosed that former New People’s Army (NPA), partner alyas “Roc” and “Jhon”, recently surrendered with an arms cache located in barangay Old Kauswagan, Saint Bernard and Sitio Tabon, barangay Calag-itan, Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.
Former NPA members of Squad 1, P1, SRC “LEVOX”, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee, together with the BTF-ELCAC of barangay Old Kauswagan and 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade launched an operation to locate the said arms cache, according to the Brigade’s report.
The troops discovered one AK47 rifle with defaced serial number, two magazines with one M653 rifle, two caliber .45 pistols, fourteen rounds of 5.56mm ball cartridge ammunition and three M16 magazines. The report said that the firearms were owned by an active NPA member and former NPA member. The rifles were buried before recovery.
Meanwhile, army troops also discovered a one M16 rifle with defaced serial number placed inside a plastic jug and two M16 long magazines at sitio Tabjon, barangay Calag-itan, Hinunangan, Southern Leyte.
Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto R. Dela Rosa Jr., Commanding Officer of 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion said that the capture of war materials manifests the declining support of the masses to the CPP-NPA-NDF terrorist group.
Colonel Noel A. Vestuir, Commander of 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade, lauded the former rebels and the BTF-ELCAC of the above-mentioned barangays for their active cooperation. (Peerless Brigade)
Southern Leyte Times