RECOVERED. A New People's Army (NPA) rebel who surrendered led government troops to the location of high-powered firearms buried in Juban town, Sorsogon province on Sunday (March 19, 2023). A drum was recovered, containing an M-1 carbine, an AR-9, a KG-9, a Molotov, 350 rounds of ammunition for the M16, a 10-meter cable used for explosives and medical paraphernalia. (Photo courtesy of 9ID)
LEGAZPI CITY – A communist New People's Army (NPA) rebel who surrendered over the weekend led government troops to the location of high-powered firearms buried in Barangay Calmayon in Juban town, Sorsogon province.
In an interview on Monday, Capt. Frank Roldan, 9th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office (DPAO) chief, identified the former rebel as "Ka Gohan."
"The combined forces of the 22nd Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police (PNP) unearthed a drum containing firearms, ammunition, and explosives belonging to the communist terrorist group (CTG) on Sunday, a day after 'Ka Gohan' surrendered," Roldan said.
He noted that before returning to the fold of the law, "Ka Gohan" was a member of Platoon 1, Larangan 2, Komite Probinsiya 3 of the NPA.
"Mismong si Ka Gohan ang nagturo sa pinagtataguan nito kung saan nadiskobre ang isang drum na naglalaman ng isang M-1 carbine, isang AR-9, isang KG-9, isang Molotov, 350 ng mga bala para sa M16, nasa 10 metrong kable na gamit sa pampasabog, at iba pang medical paraphernalia (Ka Gohan himself pointed to the hiding place where a drum was discovered containing an M-1 carbine, an AR-9, a KG-9, a Molotov, 350 rounds of ammunition for M16, a 10-meter cable used for explosives and other medical paraphernalia)," Roldan said.
The recovered weapons were immediately removed by the troops to keep the residents in the area away from danger.
In a statement, Maj. Gen. Adonis Bajao, commander of the 9th Infantry Division (9ID) and Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB), said the discovery of the equipment is proof of the CTG's continued plan to sow evil in Bicol.
He said the trust and information from the public are of great help to the authorities in thwarting the plans of the rebel group.
“We welcome any CTG member who wants to change their lives and we know that they too have been victims of their group's propaganda and promises. We are also grateful to Ka Gohan and the cooperation and interaction of the people that resulted in the acquisition of terrorist equipment that could have been used to sow violence by the CTG," Bajao said. (PNA)
