Cops seize 12K AK-47 ammo in Butuan

From the Philippine News Agency (Mar 30, 2022): Cops seize 12K AK-47 ammo in Butuan (By Alexander Lopez) 

SEIZED AMMOS. Police personnel seize around 12,013 pieces of ammunition on March 29, 2022, in the hinterland area of Tukbuon, Sitio Lamusig, Barangay Tungao, Butuan City. The recovered bullets are for an AK-47 rifle used by the communist New People’s Army rebels. (Photo courtesy of PRO-13)

A total of 12,013 pieces of ammunition for an AK-47 rifle were recovered Wednesday by personnel of the police’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion in the Caraga Region (RMFB-13) in Barangay Tungao here, a top police official said.

In a statement, Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat Jr., the Police Regional Office – Caraga (PRO-13 director, (Caraga) said the huge number of ammunition was recovered in the hinterland area of Tukbuon, Sitio Lamusig, Barangay Tungao.

“The seized cache of ammunition for AK-47 rifle is owned by the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the area,” Caramat said.

He added that the war materiel were concealed in four plastic containers and buried at a location in Tukbuon.

The recovery of the ammunition cache stemmed from the report of civilians in the area.

"I am grateful to the peace-loving Caraganons who have been assisting the PRO-13 in maintaining peace and order, particularly in reporting where the rebels are hiding and conceal their armaments,” Caramat said.

He said confiscation of the ammunition has saved more lives of the people in Caraga.

“We call on the remaining NPA members to surrender now, end the chaos you caused for years and live in peace with your family," Caramat said.

He commended the personnel of RMFB13, led by Col. Laudemer Laude, for the success of the operation.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1171018