BACOLOD CITY – Soldiers recovered a suspected New People’s Army weapons stash in the hinterlands of Barangay Pinowayan, Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), Negros Occidental on Monday, July 29.

Found were two M14 rifles, an M1 Garand rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, three Garand clips with 24 bullets, 100 ammunition for M14, five 12-gauge shotgun ammunition.

SOLDIERS recovered a suspected NPA arms cache in Barangay Pinowayan, Don Salvador Benedicto (DSB), Negros Occidental on Monday, July 29. (Photo courtesy of 79th IB)

 These were buried by suspected remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front (NNF)-D and will be properly documented and disposed of in coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and police.

Capt. Dan Carlo Samoza, 79th Infantry Battalion civil-military operations (CMO) officer, said that information from a concerned individual that corroborated the revelations of four NPA rebels who recently surrendered to the government led to the discovery of the arms cache.

The four rebel returnees were reportedly involved in a series of clashes in Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental last February.

Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79th IB commander, said that the recovery of the arms cache in Don Salvador Benedicto is a testament of their commitment to end the atrocities of NNF-D remnants.

“While we are honored by your bravery of helping your troopers and the government, we give our solemn pledge to the people of Negros that your 79th IB will untiringly sustain all our efforts to maintain the peace and order in our area of operation in accordance to the law and our mandate as the protector of the people and the state towards the continuous peace and development of our communities,” Calaoagan said.