AFP discovers bomb-making materials, RPGs in Agusan del Norte hinterlands
BUTUAN CITY – Troops of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) discovered bomb-making materials and powerful Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs) including live ammunitions at the hinterlands of Barangay Cuyago, Santiago town, Agusan del Norte province, the military reported on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
1st Lt. Jade Bryce G. Bune, Civil Military Operations (CMO) officer of the Army’s 29th Infantry (Matatag) Battalion (29th IB), told The Manila Bulletin on Tuesday that the peace and development troops (PDTs) of the 29th IB found the bomb-making materials on an information provided by the villagers.
“Small-scale miners in the area also reported these (bombs) on Friday (Sept. 30),” said the 29th IB CMO officer, in an interview with The Manila Bulletin on Tuesday.
It can be recalled that on Sept. 14, also this year, the PDTs of the 29th IB encountered undetermined number of heavily armed members of Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) in the said area and later found the cadaver of slain New People’s Army (NPA) member thru the relentless Focused Military Operation (FMO) being conducted by the Philippine Army unit.
The 29th IB condemns the CTGs continued use of improvised explosive devices (IED) as landmines due to the inherent humanitarian threats they pose to civilians and communities, 29th IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Cresensio C. Gargar also said.
“It clearly implies that the CTG does not respect human rights and does not comply with International Humanitarian Law (IHL),” the 29th IB commander stressed.
Col. Gargar expressed gratitude to the continuous cooperation of the villagers and local officials for the peace and development program of the 29th IB under its area of responsibility.