Gov’t troops recover firearms in Eastern Samar

TACLOBAN CITY—Government soldiers recovered a cache of firearms reportedly owned by the New People’s Army (NPA) in Gen. MacArthur town, Eastern Samar.

The discovery of the firearms came about after a former NPA member surrendered to the 78th Infantry Battalion based in Borongan City, also in Eastern Samar.

Captain Arnold Arias, a civil-military officer of the battalion, said the former rebel, identified as Ka Roel, led the government troops in the operations.

The firearms, which include five M16 rifles, two M14 rifles, and six IED main charge components, were found in the mountains of Laurel, Macapagal, Magsaysay, and Osmena.

Ka Roel, 45, surrendered this June to the 78th IB under Lt. Col. Oliver Alvior.

The former rebel also turned over a 5.56 mm, an M16A1 rifle, and several rounds of ammunition.

Ka Roel said hunger and running around as a rebel for the past five years prompted him to surrender.

Alvior welcomed the surrender of the former rebel as he vowed to provide all needed financial assistance to him so he could start a new life.

“The increasing number of NPA surrenderers and the recovery of numerous firearms and explosives signify that the NPA in Eastern Samar [is] directionless because [its] top leaders have abandoned [its] fighters,” he said in a statement.

LZB