ARMS CACHE. Soldiers in Magpet, North Cotabato, seize a .30-caliber machine gun, two M-16 Armalite rifles and subversive documents on Monday (Oct. 21, 2019). A former New People’s Army combatant led them to the site where the firearms were kept. (Photo courtesy of 72IB)
COTABATO CITY – A communist rebel who surrendered to government forces led soldiers to an area in Magpet, North Cotabato where high powered firearms of the New People’s Army (NPA) were kept, an Army official said.
Lt. Colonel Rey Alvarado, commander of Army’s 72nd Infantry Battalion, said government forces found a light machine gun, M16 rifles, ammunition and subversive documents in Sitio Family, Barangay Basak in Magpet, North Cotabato on Monday.
Alvarado said a former NPA member, whom he identified only as “Ton-Ton” for security reasons, voluntarily surrendered to soldiers stationed at Barangay Perez Patrol Base in Kidapawan City.
“Ton-ton’s surrender was facilitated by Perez barangay officials,” Alvarado said.
He said “Ton-Ton” was a former squad leader of NPA Guerilla Front 53 (GF-53) operating in the second district of North Cotabato.
“He was the second NPA member who voluntarily surrendered lately and led soldiers to a site where rebel firearms were kept,” Alvarado said.
Earlier this month, Harold (not his real name), a full-time member GF-53 and the team leader of the NPA's Special Partisan Unit (SPARU in the province), was convinced by his family to yield earlier this month.
Alvarado said Harold, 30, of Barangay Balite, Magpet, surrendered and handed over to soldiers a .45-caliber pistol with ammunition and a hand grenade.
During interrogation, the military said “Harold” revealed the location of NPA firearms entrusted to its underground mass organizations (UGMO).
Harold then led the Army’s 72nd troopers to an area in Matalam, North Cotabato where four high-powered firearms with magazines and ammunition were kept.
The military said Harold also guided soldiers to a village in Pres. Roxas, North Cotabato, where hundreds of ammunition and improvised explosive devices were kept near the house of an unidentified UGMO member.
Alvarado said he foresees an end to the local communist rebellion, with the soldiers getting the support of government agencies and rebel sympathizers.
The Army official also underscored the government's "whole of nation approach" in ending insurgency on the ground.
The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)
