TACLOBAN CITY – Five high-powered firearms were discovered by the 63rd Infantry (Innovator) Battalion in Sitio Bagti, Barangay Mabini, Basey, Samar, on Tuesday, December 19.
Recovered were three M16 and two AK-47 assault rifles.
MAP of Basey, Samar.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade, said these guns belong to the Bugsok Platoon, Sub-regional Committee Sesame of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.
He said that a former Militia ng Bayan from Barangay Mabini disclosed its location to the military.
Vestuir lauded the discovery of these weapons.
"The discovery of the arms cache is a strong manifestation that the people who are their former allies in their former guerilla base are already with us in our quest to end the local communist armed conflict," he said.
Vestuir reiterated his call to remaining NPA to abandon the armed struggle and rejoin their families and mainstream society.