A joint operation by the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police-Scene of the Crime Operatives (PNP-SOCO) uncovered an arms cache belonging to the communist New People’s Army (NPA) in Barangay Cogon, Carigara, Leyte.
Lt. Col. Celeste Frank Sayson, commander of the Army’s 93rd Infantry Battalion, said the cache was linked to remnants of Platoon 2 of the NPA’s Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee.
Recovered items included an M16 rifle, a hand grenade, ammunition, three short magazines, two improvised blasting cups, subversive documents, a computer tablet, rice, a backpack, and medical supplies.
“The successful recovery of the arms cache was made possible through the strong cooperation of the community, as they reported the location to the authorities,” Sayson said.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade, praised the community’s role in supporting the government’s anti-insurgency efforts.
“We commend our troops and the PNP-SOCO for their swift action on the information provided by the community on the location of the buried weapons. The cooperation of the community is important in our steps to put an end to the crime spree of these remaining NPA members in Carigara,” Vestuir said.
He also urged the remaining NPA members in Leyte to surrender and avail themselves of government programs for reintegration.
In June, three members of the same group were killed in an armed encounter in Carigara.