TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine Army recovered high-powered firearms in the boundaries of hinterland Barangays Calingatnan and San Mateo in Borongan City, Eastern Samar on Tuesday, July 9.
Found were a baby Armalite, five long magazines and four short magazines for M653, 248 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 11 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, 10 rounds of caliber .38 ammunition, three rounds of 9mm ammunition, one box of caliber .38 ammunition, and one bandolier.
Former members of the Apoy Platoon of the Sub-Regional Committee Sesame revealed the location of the arms cache to the military.
The recovery was a result of the implementation of Project: Apoy of the 78th Infantry (Warrior) Battalion under the operational control of the 802nd Infantry (Peerless) Brigade.
Lt. Col. Joseph Bogaoan of the 78th IB said the former communist rebels have been cooperating with their unit in revealing the identities of existing contacts of the remnants of the Apoy platoon in the areas where they seek refuge as they continue to evade government operating forces.
Bogaoan revealed that one of the contacts was identified as a trusted custodian of high-powered firearms and other war materials owned by the communist guerillas.
Brig. Gen. Noel Vestuir, 802nd IB commander, said that the recovery of the war materials is a testament to the commitment of the former members of Apoy platoon in helping the government attain peace.
"The successful execution of this operation underscores the importance of the support of former rebels in our campaign. They are more knowledgeable on the human and physical terrain in the areas they used to hide and they are the best people that could help us in our efforts to convince their former comrades to join them in the mainstream of our society," Vestuir said.