Huge NPA arms cache seized

From the Mindanao Times (Apr 12): Huge NPA arms cache seized

ASSORTED firearms, ammunition, and improvised explosive devices (IED) were discovered by soldiers of the 26th Infantry Battalion in Sitio Paradise, Barangay Del Monte, Veruela, Agusan del Sur on Wednesday.

Capt. Paulo Agda, the civil-military operations officer of the 26th IB, said the soldiers acted on a report from a concerned resident of armed men believed to be members of Guerrilla Front 3 of Southern Mindanao Regional Committee in Sitio Paradise on Tuesday.

They verified the information and were ambushed. Before they could retaliate, however, the armed men already escaped.

The troops gave pursuit and discovered two boxes filled with 3,000 rounds of 5.56 mm ammunition for M-16 rifle made by Armscor, one cal. 30 carbine rifle, two KG9 submachine guns, one Armscor cal. 22 rifle with scope, one complete set of IEDs, and two magazines for AK47 rifle with ammunition.

Recently, the army captain said a series of encounters between the troops of the 26th IB and Guerilla Front 3 took place in the same municipality, which led to death of their top leaders and one amazon.

“This indicates that the NPA group in the area is desperate and weakening. The more that they should realize that the better option is to surrender,” Col. Andres Centino, the commander of 401st Infantry Brigade, said.

He also praised the contribution of the residents in the discovery of the arms cache, which would have been used to attack soldiers and the police.

“We will remain steadfast and we will make sure that those responsible for this attempt to support the terrorists will be made answerable,” he said.

http://mindanaotimes.net/huge-npa-arms-cache-seized/