Gov’t forces seize sack of war materials from NPAs

From the Manila Bulletin (Aug 26): Gov’t forces seize sack of war materials from NPAs

Government forces seized from three captured New People’s Army (NPA) rebels a sack-load of high-powered firearms and other war materials in Barangay Licoan, Simulao town, Bukidnon province, said Capt. Norman Tagros, Civil Military Operation (CMO) officer of the Army’s 403rd Infantry Brigade, on Saturday.

The Bukidnon police and Army soldiers belonging to the First Special Forces Battalion were conducting law enforcement operation at Licoan village and three nearby villages when the suspects were sighted carrying a sack loaded with firearms and ammunitions on Wednesday, the 403rd CMO officer said, in a statement.

Identities of the captured NPAs were temporarily withheld as tactical interrogation was still ongoing, he said.

The suspects are believed to be members of the guerrilla-Front Committee 68 of the CPP-NPA North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee operating in Mount Kalatungan and Mount Kitanglad in Bukidnon province, he said.

The 403rd CMO officer said the suspects were arrested while patrolling government troops chanced upon them in a small house in Barangay Licoan. They were carrying a sack loaded with war materials.

Seized from the suspect’s possession were an M14 rifle, caliber .22 rifle, an Armalite rifle, two steel magazines of 7.62mm, 45 rounds of caliber 7.62mm cartridges, two steel magazines of 5.56mm, 40 rounds of caliber 5.56mm cartridges, two hand grenades, seven rounds of 12 gauge cartridges, nine rounds of caliber .38 cartridges, five fired cartridges of caliber .38, two cellular phones, assorted live ammunitions for hand guns and subversive documents, according to Tagros.

The suspects will face charges for illegal possession of firearms, ammunition and explosive charges, he said

After tactical investigation, the suspects will be turned over to Bukidnon Police Provincial Office for the filing of case and the disposition of the seized war materials, he added.

http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/08/26/govt-forces-seize-sack-of-war-materials-from-npas/