Army soldiers seize firearms

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jan 13): Army soldiers seize firearms

Army soldiers recovered Thursday nine high-powered firearms after an encounter with suspected New People's Army rebels in Brgy. Tacul, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

Negrense Col. Roberto Ancan, commander of the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, yesterday said the nine high-powered firearms that included six M-16 assault rifles, two AK 47 assault rifles, an M-14 rifle, an improvised explosive device (IED), assorted ammunition and magazines, were left behind by fleeing communist rebels, who jumped down a ravine.

Ancan said troopers of the 73rd Infantry Battalion, one of the Army infantries being supervised by the 1002nd Infantry Brigade, were conducting a checkpoint, when they were fired upon by four rebels, riding in two motorcycles.

The gunbattle, that lasted for almost 10 minutes, prompted the rebels to withdraw, leaving behind the firearms and the two Honda TMX motorcycles.

Ancan reported that combined military operations in the 1002nd Infantry Brigade area of operations in Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat last year, yielded 158 firearms, while 131 rebels were killed.

He attributed their success to the in those areas cooperation of communities, who are continuously supporting the initiatives of the government.

http://www.visayandailystar.com/2018/January/13/topstory7.htm