The Philippine Army’s 71st Infantry Battalion on Wednesday night seized high powered firearms, ammunition and improvised explosive device (IED) detonating accessories at a civilian residence in Barangay Elizalde, Maco town in
Civil Military Officer 1LT Joeaser C. Escares Jr. of the 71st Infantry “Kaibigan” Battalion, 7ID, PA, disclosed that the seized materials included four M16A1 rifles, one M653 rifle and two AK-47 rifles, one M203 40mm grenade launcher, ammunition, electrical wires and IED firing devices.
According to Escares, the “Peace and Development Team” (PDT) seized the firearms after a guard on duty noticed the movements of a man near their post at around 9 p.m., prompting him to check using night vision goggles.
The duty guard immediately alerted the members of the team members and approached the person, who ran away after seeing the team.
In a press brief, Escares said they chased the person until they reached Purok 4 of Barangay Elizalde near a certain Allan Montecalvo's house. They immediately checked the house and saw the firearms through a hole.
They are not however sure if the person they chased was Montecalvo, who is reportedly the spokesperson of Indug Kautwan, a group identified with the militant organization fighting against military atrocities and human rights violations.
LTC Denis M. Tanzo, the 71st Infantry Battalion Commanding Officer, lauded the confiscation of the firearms, saying “These weapons will surely inflict damage to both military and civilian lives.”
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=670518
Indug Katawhan vice Indug Kautwan is a suspected Communist Party of the Philippines front organization formed in the aftermath of Typhoon Pablo to discredit government and military typhoon relief efforts.
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