• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A cache of firearms and ammunition presumably hidden by remnants of the dismantled Northern Negros Front of the Komiteng Rehiyonal Negros/Cebu/Bohol/Siquijor, were recovered by members of the Philippine Army Monday, July 29, in Brgy. Pinowayan, Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental.
Acting on the information relayed to them by a former rebel, who used to be a combatant of the Northern Negros Front of the New People’s Army, troopers of the 79th Infantry Battalion were recovered two M14 assault rifles, caliber 30 M1 garand rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun, and 129 assorted ammunition.
In a statement, the 79IB said that the informant was among those who figured in a series of encounters with Army soldiers in February in Brgy. Pinapugasan, Escalante City, that led to the death of three rebels and the recovery of 18 firearms.
Last week, four rebel remnants surrendered to authorities in northern Negros.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan, 79IB commander, said in the statement that their relentless effort to sustain the current Stable Internal Peace and Security (SIPS) status of Negros Island Region and the series of surrender of key personalities of NNF-D, gained popular support among the Negrenses. | GB
