Army seizes NPA war materiel, food supplies in Agusan Sur

From the Philippine News Agency (May 24, 2024): Army seizes NPA war materiel, food supplies in Agusan Sur (By Alexander Lopez)

NPA FOOD SUPPLY. The hidden food supply of the New People’s Army rebels recovered by government troops during an operation on May 22, 2024 in far-flung Barangay Kolambogan, Sibagat, Agusan del Sur. Soldiers also recovered various war materiel in the area. (Photo courtesy of 4ID)

BUTUAN CITY – Government troops recovered war materiel and food supplies of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a series of recent military operations in Caraga Region, the Army’s 4th Infantry Division reported Friday.

On May 22, 4ID said civilians in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur, reported to the Army's 65th Infantry Battalion (65IB) the location of NPA war materiel and food supplies.

This led to an operation in which the 65IB troopers recovered from a cave in the hinterlands of Barangay Kolambogan various food supplies and NPA war materiel.

The recovered war materiel include various rounds of ammunition for M16 rifle, M14 rifle, Garand rifle, a fragmentation grenade, rifle grenades, M79 projectile grenades, blasting caps, and detonating wires for anti-personnel mine.

“The food cache and war materiel belonged to the NPA Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad Westland of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC),” the 4ID report said.

On the same day, troops from Special Recon Team of the Army's 901st Infantry Brigade chanced upon a group of NPA rebels, also from the NEMRC, resulting in a 20-minute firefight in Barangay Camayahan here.

Government troops recovered from the encounter site an M16 rifle, magazines with ammunition, and bandoliers.

Maj. Gen. Jose Maria Cuerpo II, the 4ID commander, said the NPA rebels in the region are already demoralized due to the intensified focused military operations.

“We will not stop until these remaining rebel groups will finally collapse, and their few remaining members will choose to embrace the path to peace,” he said.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1225480