DISCOVERY. Police operatives have recovered several rounds of ammunition and what appears to be bomb components on Thursday (Oct. 17, 2023) at a cave in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. The cave is believed to be a temporary harbor area of alleged Communist New People's Army members, the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office said on Wednesday (Oct. 18, 2023). (Photo courtesy of NOPPO)
DUMAGUETE CITY – Police operatives have seized a cache of ammunition and bomb components at a temporary harbor site of Communist New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Mabinay, Negros Oriental.
They discovered the items in a cave at Sitio Cansanaan in Barangay Abis on Tuesday, Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson and deputy chief of the Police Community Affairs and Development Unit (PCADU) of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) on Wednesday said.
The 704th Provincial Mobile Force Company received a report of the presence of unidentified armed men believed to be NPA members and immediately conducted an operation in the vicinity of Barangays Bato, Abis and Samac, Polinar said.
They found the cave reportedly been used by suspected NPA members.
A subsequent search yielded one red chest bag containing assorted medicines; a container with suspected ANFO (ammonium nitrate and fuel oil) of approximately four liters; an orange backpack containing two pieces of electric blasting cap; two pieces of 9-volts battery; two rolls of firing wire 10-20 meters each; and several rounds of live ammunition of various caliber for short and long firearms; two magazines; a pair of rainboots; and assorted “subversive” documents.
Polinar said the police are now coordinating with their Philippine Army counterparts in scouring the area for the suspected NPA rebels who he said are mobile and could be crossing the boundaries of Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental. (PNA)
