Military hot on heels of NPA gun smugglers

From the Manila Bulletin (Jan 15): Military hot on heels of NPA gun smugglers

Government troops have launched manhunt operations against New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who tried to smuggle assorted high-powered firearms through Magsaysay, Davao del Sur over the weekend.

Col. Roberto Ancan, 1002nd Infantry Brigade commander, said soldiers belonging to the 73rd Infantry Battalion intercepted at a checkpoint at least four NPA rebels riding two motorcycles in Barangay Tacul, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur.

He said the rebels engaged the soldiers in a 10-minute firefight before they withdrew and left behind assorted high-powered firearms consisting of six M-16 rifles, four AK-47 rifles, and an M-14 rifle, and an improvised explosive device (IED) and the two motorcycles.

Military authorities said the suspected NPA rebels tried to smuggle the firearms intended for NPA guerilla forces operating in Makilala, North Cotabato.

Ancan the military had set up a dragnet to intercept the firearms after it received information that the NPA will transport the firearms to beef up the firepower of its forces in North Cotabato.

Last year, the 1002nd Army Brigade commander, had stepped up its security operations against NPA rebels in the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Davao del Sur which resulted in the surrender of some 130 NPA rebels and 160 firearms.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/01/15/military-hot-on-heels-of-npa-gun-smugglers/