ILOILO City – In a significant boost to the government’s anti-insurgency efforts, soldiers from the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) recovered a cache of firearms and ammunition belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) in a remote village in Igbaras, Iloilo.
The arms cache was discovered Tuesday, July 8, in Sitio Butuan, Barangay Bagay, through information provided by two former rebels who surrendered last year.
Recovered from the site were two M16 rifles, two long magazines, assorted ammunition, two bandoliers, and other equipment believed to have been hidden by NPA fighters operating in the area.
Major General Michael Samson, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), commended both the troops and the informants, saying the discovery reflects growing trust in government efforts and the weakening grip of insurgents in the region.
“I acknowledge the 61IB’s efforts against the anti-insurgency campaign in recovering arms cache belonged to the former rebels. Their willingness to share vital information is a strong indication that they are no longer bound by false promises of the rebels. They are now resolute in helping this decades-long insurgency to its rightful end,” Samson said.
He added that the military remains committed to its campaign to eradicate communist insurgency in Western Visayas.
“We will not rest until every community in Western Visayas is free from the remaining traces of insurgency. This is not merely a promise but a mission — to secure lasting peace, so that the people of this region can live without fear and look forward to a future of stability and progress,” Samson said.
The military believes the recovered weapons were intended for use in future tactical offensives in southern Iloilo. The discovery comes amid intensified military operations and localized peace talks in the region./PN