Troops seize food supplies of Reds in Lanao

From the Philippine News Agency (Sep 5, 2019): Troops seize food supplies of Reds in Lanao

Government forces have seized food supplies of New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, military officials said Thursday.

Lt. Col. Rafman Altre, Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion commander, said the food supply, consisting of 160 kilos rice placed in 20-liter containers, was discovered Wednesday in Tagoloan II, Lanao del Sur.

“Reported by a concerned civilian, eight 20-Liter black containers buried and filled with 160 kilograms of rice were discovered and seized by our troops,” Altre said.

It was the second time the troops have seized food supplies of the NPA rebels in the town of Tagoloan II, Lanao del Sur.

The first was April this year where the troops discovered 21 black containers also filled with rice in Barangay Sigayan, Tagoloan II.

Brig. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., Army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade commander, said the discovery of the food reserves “will make them hungry in the hinterlands.”

Brawner said the command’s focused military operation will be relentless against the NPA rebels in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur.

“We will not allow these NPAs to sow terror in the hinterland communities,” Brawner said.

“We urged them to surrender and return to mainstream society. The discovery of the food reserves will make them hungry in the hinterlands,” Brawner added.

Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Roberto Ancan, Army’s 1st Infantry Division and Joint Task Force Zampelan (Zamboanga Peninsula and Lanao Provinces) commander, commended the efforts of the troops and the resident who reported the NPA’s food caches.

“We recognized the courageous action of the resident. We are just one text away, your Army is ready to respond and quell all threat groups in our area of responsibility,” Ancan said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1079660