• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A high-powered assault rifle and its ammunition hidden by remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA) were unearthed by soldiers of the Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (IB) in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental on Sunday (Aug. 4).
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, commander of 79IB, said that the recovery of the M653 assault rifle with ammunition was based on the information provided to them by four former rebels, who recently surrendered to their unit.
On July 29, two M14 assault rifles, a caliber .30 M1 garand rifle and a shotgun were also recovered by the 79IB through the help of the former rebels, he added.
The recovered firearms were hidden by remnants of the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front, following a series of encounters in the village in February this year.
Last week, three suspected rebels died in separate encounters with 15th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Cauayan and Sipalay City, which also led to the recovery of four fragmentation grenades, two caliber .45 pistols and a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition. | GB
