NPA Arms Cache Yields 20 Landmines and 7 Firearms

Cagayan de Oro City. A team of Army troops from the 8th Infantry Battalion under Ltc Maurito L Licudine discovered an NPA firearms and explosive cache at 5:20 A.M., 17 October 2009. The arms cache, situated at vicinity Barangay Busdi, Malaybalay City, belonged to guerillas from the CPP/NPA North-Central Mindanao Regional Committee’s Guerilla Front 89.

In his report to the 403rd Brigade Commander, Colonel Nicanor Dolojan, LtCol Licudine said that the firearms were discovered separately when the troops overran an enemy encampment at Barangay Busdi in Malaybalay City at around 1:30 A.M.

The team led by 1LT Crisaldo U Uria and 2LT Emerson P Nelvis recovered from the area three (3) M16, one (1) M1 Carbine, one (1) Caliber 22 rifle, and two (2) handguns. Also recovered were 20 improvised anti-personnel land mines and 13 super dyne explosive primers.

Operating troops also recovered 160 meters of time fuse, three pieces of PVC pipes and 37 meters of extension wire (31.25 mm) all used for making pipe bombs

“The recovered land mines are clear indication that the NPAs are using banned items which are prohibited under the laws of land warfare and International Humanitarian Law signed by civilized societies and organizations internationally.” Colonel Dolojan said.

The AFP already got rid of these in its inventory when the Philippines signed the agreement. “The use of landmines was prohibited internationally since it does not select its victims; combatants and non-combatant, young and old alike, anybody becomes a victim.” Dolojan added.

At the Headquarters of the 4th Infantry Division, BGen Mario F Chan, the 4th Infantry Division Commander, said that the essential key to the success of the Army’s Internal Security Operation is the active participation of the Local Government Units and the populace in the locality.

“As shown by this recent accomplishment of 8IB and our past gains in Bukidnon, it is the support of the LGUs and the information provided by the people to our troops that led to successful encounters, discovery of camps and the apprehensions of top CPP/NPA leaders like the arrest of Mapano last August and the neutralization of KOMMID members in the Municipality of Quezon last year” BGen Chan said.