Army seizes cache of explosives, guns in Negros Oriental

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines  – Philippine Army soldiers have recovered a cache of high-powered firearms, C4 plastic explosive, explosives components and food stuffs from an almost unpopulated area in Mayaposi, Mabinay town in Negros Oriental early Friday.

Troops of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, the 79th Infantry Battalion and the Alpha Company of the 12th IB intercepted and took possession of the following items:

Two cal. 5.56 mm M16 assault rifles, five alloy magazines for M16 rifle with 20 rounds capacity, 112 pieces of M16 ammunition, six pieces of 40mm ammunition for grenade launchers, two rifle grenades, 35 meters of detonating cord, six pounds supply charge TNT (Trinitrotoluene),1.5 pounds of C-4 explosives, one sack of rice, 100 cans of 555 sardines, three boxes of Payless noodles, four reams of Fortune cigarettes, three packs of Skyflakes crackers and four packs of 3-in1 Nescafe instant coffee.

According to Capt. Roberto Salvador of the 12th IB’s Alpha Company, who led the intercepting team, they were acting on a tip from some civilians in Mayaposi about some items left in a clearing.

Initial reports said a cargo truck loaded with sugar cane from Negros Oriental, but without a registration plate, had arrived in the area at dawn Friday and dropped the items off. No witnesses were immediately available to provide authorities additional information that could prove vital in identifying the bearer(s) or the recipient(s) of the items.

The soldiers immediately proceeded to the area after receiving the tip, just about 30 minutes after the drop-off was made. They eventually found the sack of rice and boxes of food supply at the site. Nobody was in the area, leading the troops to surmise that they had arrived ahead of the intended recipients, said Salvador.

Upon further inspection, the soldiers discovered two assault rifles concealed inside a sack that was filled with rice to the brim. The explosives were also concealed in the boxes that contained the food stuffs, Salvador said.

The delivery could be part of a large tactical offensive by the NPA against government troops, to include soldiers and policemen, as part of the upcoming 43rd anniversary of the NPA on December 29, Salvador pointed out.

The Army official also did not discount the possibility the trans-shipment of the armaments were political in nature considering that the May 2013 elections is just about six months away from now.

The successful interception and retrieval of the cache of firearms, ammunition and explosives may have aborted a planned tactical offensive or ambush against government troops, but the Philippine Army is relentlessly pursuing their operations in Negros to crush the insurgency, said Salvador.

Colonel Francisco Patrimonio, 302nd Infantry Brigade commander, for his part lauded the concern and support of civilians in the government’s anti-insurgency campaign.

Meanwhile, military authorities are now tracing the source of the seized assault rifles, rifle grenades, 40 mm grenades and M16 ammunitions if these belonged to the government. The serial numbers of the firearms had been defaced but bore markings that appear to be intended for the AFP.  (FREEMAN)