ILOILO City – Continuing its crackdown on insurgent remnants in Panay Island, the Philippine Army’s 12th Infantry Battalion (12IB) uncovered another arms cache believed to belong to the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sitio Badas, Barangay Tacayan, Tapaz, Capiz — marking the third such recovery in less than a month.
The cache, found Tuesday, July 15, included an M16 rifle, a defective .38 caliber pistol, three short M16 magazines, ammunition, two rifle grenades, an anti-personnel mine detonator, three blasting caps, 50 meters of wire, and a holster.
The discovery was made possible through intelligence provided by a former rebel, officials said.
Major General Michael Samson, commander of the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID), praised the battalion’s efforts and underscored the importance of ex-rebels’ cooperation in ongoing military operations.
“I commended the 12IB for their unwavering commitment and decisive actions that led to the discovery of high-powered firearms and explosives in Tapaz town. These persistent operations are part of the 3ID’s sustained efforts to completely eradicate the remnants of the terrorist group in Panay,” Samson said.
“Our campaign will continue until this group can no longer regroup or resurface. We will continue targeting their remaining manpower and armed capabilities, leaving them with only one option: to abandon armed struggle and return to the fold of the law,” he added.
Samson called on the public to stay alert and report any suspicious activities to authorities, stressing that community support remains crucial in dismantling the region’s remaining rebel networks.
Tuesday’s seizure was the latest in a series of successful operations.
On June 16, soldiers found another M16 rifle and ammunition in Sitio Naatip, Barangay Lahug, also in Tapaz. Then, on July 8, troops discovered two more M16 rifles, long magazines, assorted ammunition, and other gear in Sitio Butuan, Barangay Bagay, Igbaras, Iloilo. The Igbaras operation was also made possible by tips from two former rebels who surrendered in 2024.
Military officials believe these recovered weapons were stashed by NPA fighters in retreat, and say their removal weakens the rebels’ capacity to launch attacks in the region./PN
