Military raids bomb 'tiangge' in Compostela, nabs 2 NPA suppliers

MANILA, Philippines - A joint team of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Bureau of Investigation has arrested two individuals believed to be suppliers of explosives being used by communist rebels in Compostela Valley.

Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman Capt. Alberto Caber said authorities raided an explosives "tiangge" in Poblacion Nabunturan last Monday.

Two suspected suppliers of the New People’s Army (NPA) were nabbed during the raid and are now facing charges for selling, manufacturing, possessing and dealing illegal explosives.

Caber said the identities of the suspects would not be revealed for now for security reasons and to avoid preempting future operations.

Seized during the raid were 11 sacks of ammonium nitrate with a total weight of 275 kilos, 1,132 meters of time fuse, 569 pieces of blasting caps, a drum of cyanide and three kilos of mercury chemicals.

Around P300,000 worth of explosives and raw materials were confiscated during the operation.

The recovered explosives and paraphernalia were turned over to Army Explosive Ordnance Division for documentation and proper disposition.

Caber claimed that the raid would have a huge impact on the operations of the NPA in the province.

“If the two suspects provide us information, we will be able to identify other individuals behind the manufacture of these explosives,” he said in a phone interview.

Caber said a total of 465 NPA landmines have exploded in eastern Mindanao since 2010, leaving 138 people dead, 345 others wounded and several civilian properties and government facilities destroyed.

Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III said they would continue their campaign against illegal explosives to ensure the safety of residents in the region.