(UPDATE) 2 leftist rebels nabbed, huge arms cache recovered in Palawan

MANILA, Philippines (Xinhua) - Authorities have arrested two suspected members of the leftist New People's Army (NPA) and intercepted a large arms cache in Palawan yesterday, local military said today.

First Lieutenant Cherryl Tindog, chief of public affairs office of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Command, said that acting on reports from the civilian community, Western Command conducted joint operations at sea on Sunday to intercept armed NPA members.

According to the military, the Navy commandos pursued the undetermined number of leftist rebels up to Port Barton village in San Vicente town.

Two of the suspects were arrested and the operating fleet- marine troops recovered a large arms cache, including eight shotguns, 50 heavy machine guns, two Ingram (9 millimeter), one 9mm M-16 type rifle, a caliber .45 and a caliber .50 improvised sniper rifle, Tindog said.

The military also recovered ammunition of different calibers, rigged improvised explosive devices in two container drums, combat boots and the boat left by the fleeing armed men, he added.

"Most significant in this joint operation is the recovery of six shotguns that were positively identified to be the same shotguns that the armed NPA regulars took when they raided Salvamar Pearl Farm in April this year," Tindog said.

The NPA, an armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army, has been waging war against the government for over four decades.