LARGEST ARMS CACHE. Government troops have unearthed the largest arms cache of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the hinterlands of Caraga Region, the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) says Tuesday (Aug. 30, 2022). Former NPA members under Guerilla Front 16 led government troops to the 31 high-powered firearms and other war matériel in various areas of the region this month. (Photo courtesy of Eastmincom)
DAVAO CITY - Government troops unearthed the largest arms cache of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the hinterlands of the Caraga Region, the Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) said Tuesday.
In a statement, the Eastmincom said former members of Guerilla Front 16 under the NPA's North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee led government troops to 31 high-powered firearms and other war matériel in different areas of the region.
Lt. Gen. Greg Almerol, Eastmincom commander, said they uncovered the arms caches following the mass surrender of the NPA members earlier this month.
The high-powered firearms consisted of M4 rifles with nine units, M16 rifles (8), AK-47 rifles (6), M79 grenade launchers (3), M14 rifle (1), Galil rifle (1), Carbine rifle (1), R4 rifle (1), Pistol Grand Master (1), an improvised explosive device, several assorted magazines, 2,010 rounds of various ammunition, four bandoliers, and other war matériel.
Of the 31 firearms, 16 were divulged by nine members of the Sentro Degrabidad (SDG) and Sandatahang Yunit Pampropaganda 16B (SYP16B) in Barangay Mahanub, Gigaquit, Surigao del Norte, on August 12.
The other 15 firearms were revealed by four other comrades from the same unit on August 22 and 25.
Almerol lauded the troops for their "relentless efforts that further weakened the capability of the NPA in Eastern Mindanao."
He is also optimistic that with the series of surrenders, Caraga will be declared "Insurgency-free" before the end of the year.
"With our intensified military operations and aid from former rebels, it is only a matter of time before we declare them dismantled and the rest of Caraga Region free from insurgency this year," Almerol said.
He called on remaining members of the NPA to surrender and avail of government programs through the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program to start a new life with their families.
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.
The Anti-Terrorism Council also formally designated the National Democratic Front as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA that was created in April 1973. (PNA)
