DAVAO CITY – Soldiers from the 75th Infantry Battalion recovered an arms cache, and medical and food supplies hidden by suspected communist rebels in Barangay Bunawan Brook in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur on Sunday, a military official said Monday.
Lieutenant Colonel Jaime Datuin, the 75thIB commander, said among the high-powered firearms recovered were an M14 rifle and an AK47.
Datuin said soldiers also recovered assorted types of ammunition, six Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), a rifle grenade, 315 pieces super dyne explosives, six pieces blasting caps, three handheld radio batteries, 450 meters electrical wire, A Yamada generator set, an Acer multi-media projector, 28 gallons of rice, military uniforms and personal belongings.
Datuin said the recovery of the items was made possible through information provided by the locals.
Colonel Andres Centino, the commander of the Army’s 401stInfantry Brigade, said the recovery of the items owned by the New People’s Army (NPA) showed the importance of civilian cooperation.
“Your security forces need the help of everyone, may it be the local chief executive, local government agencies, media, and especially the populace in order to stop terrorism brought by the NPA. A peaceful community can be achieved with everybody’s help,” Centino said.
Major General Ronald Villanueva, the commander of the 4th Infantry Division based in Cagayan de Oro City, said the cooperation showed by Bunawan locals indicated the “shifting support from NPA terrorists to the government.”