The Philippine Army reported the discovery of a New People’s Army (NPA) explosives factory in Igbaras, Iloilo, even as about 1,000 Army troops were busy conducting rescue and relief operations in the National Capital Region (NCR) and different parts of Luzon following the destruction caused by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said reports reaching the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio showed the NPA explosives factory was discovered by the 82nd Infantry Battalion in Igbaras, Iloilo.

Burgos said one company of the 82nd IB found what appeared to be improvised steel ovens used for the preparation of ammonium nitrate, a key component in the creation of explosives and improvised explosive devices.

Also found were containers of diesel fuel, bags of commercial fertilizer, and several cords of detonation cord, all of which are necessary in the manufacture of improvised anti-personal mines.

According to Lt. Col. George Joel Lalaquil, 82nd IB commander, the three steel ovens were used to prepare mixtures of ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO), commonly known as improvised fertilizer bombs, a high explosive used in the production of landmines.

Army officials said the Igbaras rebel camp was established as the local terrorist group’s explosive laboratory in Panay. This discovery denied the NPA rebels the capability to launch attacks using illegal explosives.

Last week, the same battalion, discovered a stockpile of landmines, ammunition, and assorted items left behind by fleeing NPAs in a rebel camp in Sitio Tigbasa, Barangay Tigbanaba, Igbaras. It is also responsible for the capture of two NPA rebels facing rebellion charges at the Regional Trial Court of Guimbal, Iloilo.

The 82nd IB is one of the three battalions recently activated to address the remaining threats of communist insurgency in the country before 2010 ends.

In another development, the Philippine National Police (PNP) continued to mobilize to help in the relief and rescue operations following the devastation caused by tropical storm “Ondoy” in Metro Manila and 27 provinces.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Versoza said PNP personnel are working round the clock with the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC), Philippine National Red Cross and local governments to rescue people.

On Saturday, the PNP Special Action Force (SAF) rescued 800 people who were trapped on their rooftops in Provident Village, Marikina. Eight residents of the village were reportedly killed during the typhoon.

Marikina, Pasig and Rizal have been severely affected by the typhoon as floods rose that completely covered houses and caused landslides.

“We have put a team in Pasig to help residents. We will continue to monitor events and deploy more personnel as needed,” Versoza said.

Versoza said the South Luzon and North Luzon Expressways are now passable after the onslaught of the typhoon.

PAGASA said typhoon Ondoy continued to move away from the country although rains will continue in the next few days.