UNEARTHED. Military troops recover firearms and ammunition belonging to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army in Sitio Sarumbibit, Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan on Sept. 17, 2022. The recovered war materiel includes rifles of various caliber, ammunition, and different types of magazines. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 7th Infantry Division)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Military troops have recovered firearms and ammunition belonging to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan, Army officials said on Tuesday.
Col. Ronnel B. Dela Cruz, commanding officer of the 70th Infantry Battalion (70IB), said the arms cache was found on Saturday in Sitio Sarumbibit, Barangay San Mateo following a tip from a concerned citizen.
Dela Cruz said operating troops of the 70IB immediately conducted the operation that resulted in the recovery of the war materiel.
"Ang pagkakatuklas ng mga armas na ito ay katunayan na ayaw na ng taong bayan sa armadong pakikibaka na ginagawa ng teroristang grupo ng New People’s Army. Gusto na ng taong bayan na mamuhay na tahimik at ligtas sa panganib (The discovery of the arms cache is a proof that the people no longer want the armed struggle being carried out by the terrorist group New People's Army. The people want to live a quiet life and be safe from risk),” he said in a statement.
The recovered war materiel include one M16A1 rifle, one Colt M653 rifle, one Elisco M653 rifle, 115 pieces of 5.56 ammunition, and various types of magazines.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Norwin D. Pasamonte, commander of the Army's 703rd Infantry Brigade, said the continuous surrender and discovery of firearms and ammunition in Central Luzon is proof that the local communist armed conflict in Central Luzon is dying.
“Wala na silang suporta ng taong bayan (They no longer have the support of the people),” Pasamonte said.
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Costelo, commander of the 7th Infantry Division, cited the importance of cooperation of the community and the effort of the different security forces, local government units, and government agencies in ending the local communist armed conflict.
“Ituloy lang natin ang ating pagtutulungan at malapit na nating matuldukan ang gulo dito sa Central Luzon (Let us just continue the cooperation and we will soon put an end to the chaos here in Central Luzon),” Costelo said.
The 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 National Democratic Front has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)
