Key Philippine Military and Insurgency-Related Events: WESTMINCOM: Troops discover arms cache tipped by former armed lawless group leader

Friday, June 23, 2023

WESTMINCOM: Troops discover arms cache tipped by former armed lawless group leader

Posted to the Western Mindanao Command (WESTMINCOM) Facebook Page (Jun 22, 2023): Troops discover arms cache tipped by former armed lawless group leader

Camp Navarro, Calarian, Zamboanga City- June 21, 2023

Operating troops from the 57th Infantry Battalion (57IB) discovered an arms cache at Sitio Tinandanan, Barangay Rempes, Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, in the early morning of Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

According to Joint Task Force Central Commander, Maj. Gen. Alex Rillera, the recovery of the arms cache was based on the revelation of the former Armed Lawless Group (ALG) leader Rodrigo Dipaling Manigula, a.k.a. Bong/Magtangol. The subject personality surrendered to Lt. Col. Guillermo Mabute, Jr., Commanding Officer of 57IB, on May 23, 2023.

It can be recalled that Manigula went viral sometime in March 2023 because of his video posted on social media discriminately disclosing his possession of the four high-powered firearms and his alleged participation in the killings of prominent personalities in some areas of Upi.

Recovered from the arms cache were high-powered firearms, including one 7.62mm M14 rifle with a magazine and ammunition, one cal .30 M1 Garand rifle with one clip and ammunition, one M2 Carbine rifle with magazine and ammunition, and one 12-gauge Shotgun.

The former ALG leader and the recovered firearms are currently under the custody of the 57IB.
Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, Commander of Western Mindanao Command, commended the Joint Task Force Central troops for this significant accomplishment. "Rest assured that we will continue to step up our military and non-military operations to recover more loose firearms and neutralize the remnants of the different threat groups in our area of operation."

Lt. Gen. Galido believes that with the support of the local government units and the peace-loving people of Mindanao, achieving the coveted peace and progress in Western and Central Mindanao is near at hand.