Army says it seized NPA bomb factory

TAGUM CITY – The Army said government soldiers seized a major bomb factory of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Agusan del Sur province and were able to haul over 160 land mines.

Captain Alberto Caber, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) based in Davao City, said the soldiers raided the factory in a remote area of Loreto town on Wednesday.

Caber described the seizure as one of the military’s biggest accomplishments against communist rebels.

He said the amount of bombs seized by the soldiers was enough to raze a city.

“So far, this confiscation is the largest,” Caber added.

He said civilians helped soldiers capture the factory. Rebel leaders and supporters behind the factory would be charged, said Caber.

Lieutenant General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, Eastmincom commander, said that since 2010, 453 land mine attacks have killed 128 civilians, soldiers and police. More than 300 people have been wounded in these attacks, Cruz said. Frinston L. Lim, Inquirer Mindanao