Soldiers recover NPA arms cache in Tarlac town

From the Philippine News Agency (May 11, 2022): Soldiers recover NPA arms cache in Tarlac town (By Zorayda Tecson)

UNEARTHED. Photo shows the recovered arms cache belonging to the Komiteng Larangang Guerrilla-Tarlac-Zambales of the New People's Army (NPA) in Barangay Burgos, San Jose town, Tarlac province on Wednesday (May 10, 2023). The firearms and ammunition were discovered following a tip from concerned residents in the area. (Photo courtesy of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Government troops have discovered and recovered an arms cache of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in San Jose town, Tarlac province.

In his report on Thursday, Lt. Col. Jeszer M. Bautista, acting commanding officer of the 3rd Mechanized Infantry Battalion, said soldiers from the 32nd Mechanized Infantry Company found the firearms and ammunition belonging to the NPA's Komiteng Larangang Guerrilla-Tarlac-Zambales (KLG-TarZam) on Wednesday in Sitio Tinabla, Barangay Burgos following information provided by concerned residents.

Recovered were one .38-caliber revolver, 12 pieces of ammunition for M203 grenade launcher, ammunition for 5.56mm rifle and .38-caliber revolver, personal belongings and subversive documents.

Bautista said the track down of the arms cache was a result of the harmonious relationship between the community and the Army troops.

“Ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng mga mamamayan ay nagpapakita lamang na sila mismo, ang mga mamamayan ay sawa na sa panggagamit at pananamantala ng mga terorista. Ang kanilang pagrereport sa kinaroroonan ng mga terorista at ng kanilang kagamitan ay malaking tulong upang atin nang maubos ang mga terorista dito sa Tarlac (The cooperation of the people shows that they themselves, the people, are already fed up of being used and exploited by the terrorists. Their reports on the whereabouts of the terrorists and their belongings is a big help to us to get rid of the terrorists here in Tarlac),” he said in his report.

Maj. Gen. Andrew Costelo, commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, Philippine Army, lauded the troops as well as the concerned citizens for the discovery of the arms cache even as he reassured the safety of the community.

“We assure everyone that we will never stop until we attain our goal which is to end local communist armed conflict,” Costelo said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1201284