BACOLOD CITY – A joint military and police team arrested two suspected remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NFF) of the New People's Army (NPA) in a remote area of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental on Thursday morning.
They were found illegally possessing several firearms, according to a report of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB), whose troops were joined by personnel of the 1st Negros Occidental Provincial Mobile Force Company during the operation.
In an interview, 2nd Lt. Dan Carlo Samoza, civil-military operations officer of 79IB, said the government forces received information on the presence of armed men in Barangay Pinoyawan while conducting joint law enforcement operation in the area.
The two arrested NPA remnants, whose identities were withheld by the authorities for now, are already in the custody of Don Salvador Benedicto Municipal Police Station, he said.
Samoza said the troops recovered from their possession a KG-9 semiautomatic pistol, a caliber .45 pistol, and three 12-gauge shotguns.
Two minors were also found in their company, he said.
“This is still under investigation. We are validating other details with our counterparts,” he added.
Although the Philippine Army has declared the NNF as dismantled, its remnants are still operating in some areas in the northern part of the province.
The 79IB earlier said it continued to conduct focused military operations to prevent the remaining NPA rebels from regaining their lost territory. (PNA)
