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Buried arms cache unearthed in Zamboanga del Norte

Philippines | National

Buried arms cache unearthed in Zamboanga del Norte

By Martin Sadongdong

The military seized high-powered firearms in a suspected communist camp in Godod, Zamboanga del Norte over the weekend.

(Photosfrom 97IB/ MANILA BULLETIN)

Five AK47 assault rifles were discovered by troops of the 97th Infantry Battalion (97IB) in an abandoned house in Barangay Bunawan last Saturday, Oct. 17.

Lt. Col. Manaros Boransing, commander of 97IB, said they received the information about the buried firearms from couple “Larry” and “Grace,” self-proclaimed New People’s Army (NPA) combatants who surrendered to the military.

Boransing said the guns were being used by members of the NPA guerilla front Feliciano Alpha (Flex “A”), Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).

Accordingly, the guns were buried after the NPA unit lost a significant number of fighters due to recent surrenders and military encounters, and the limited ammunition of the group.

Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, commander of the 1st Infantry Division (1ID), enjoined all stakeholders to help the government in its efforts to wipe out communist insurgency in the region.

The guns were temporarily placed under the custody of the 97IB while documentation and other procedures to establish their origins were being conducted.

The guns will then be transferred to Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Police Office for the processing of the firearms remuneration program under the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) which will benefit Larry and Grace.

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