Army seizes NPA arms cache in Negros Occidental

From the Manila Bulletin (Sep 19, 2020): Army seizes NPA arms cache in Negros Occidental (By Martin Sadongdong)

Twelve firearms of various calibers were allegedly discovered inside the house of a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) rebel in Moises Padilla, Negros Occidental, the military reported on Saturday.

Elements of the Philippine Army’s 62nd Infantry Battalion (62IB) responded to a report about the sighting of armed men in Sitio Bungao, Barangay Macagahay last Thursday when they chanced upon a “suspicious” man who allegedly ran away and dropped a caliber .38 revolver after seeing the troops.

Major General Eric Vinoya, commander of 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), said the troops conducted a pursuit operation which led to the arrest of the suspect, Joselito Ebarle.

The troops then scoured Ebarle’s house and found in it two M16 rifles, eight caliber .38 revolvers, two home-made shotguns, one magazine of M14 rifle with ten rounds of live ammunition; one back pack containing various documents and a red flag bearing the symbol of NPA.

“The seizure of arms cache of the NPA terrorist is an indication of excess war materiel due to the dwindling number of communist-terrorists operating in Negros,” Vinoya said.

“The troops did not only inflict damage on the armed capability of the communist-terrorists but likewise prevented them to use the aforementioned firearms in casting terrorist activities,” he added.

https://mb.com.ph/2020/09/19/army-seizes-npa-arms-cache-in-negros-occidental/