BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Residents of a former New People’s Army influenced barangay in Ayungon, Negros Oriental, surrendered 40 firearms, including ammunition, to the 94th Infantry Battalion, after almost four months of their immersion program in the community.
Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, 94IB commander, said yesterday that Brgy. Carol-an residents, through the help of barangay captain Osias Teves, surrendered 22 shotguns, six .357 caliber revolvers, eight 38 caliber revolvers, three 9mm pistols, and a KG 9mm automatic pistol on Feb. 22.
Guzman said Carol-an was previously categorized among the rebel influenced barangays in Ayugon, Negros Oriental, and declared “insurgency-cleared” on Jan. 12 this year.
Before the surrender of the assorted guns, the 94IB deployed its Community Support Program sustainment team in the barangay last October, in response to the reported presence of an organized underground politico-military structure of the NPA.
Maj. Cenon Pancito, 3rd Infantry Division spokesperson, said yesterday that some of the surrendered firearms may have been issued to members of the Militia ng Bayan, a territorial force of the NPA, or left behind by the rebels for future use.
Pancito also said that the surrender of the guns will prevent chaos in the barangay. Guzman lauded the joint efforts of Teves and the CSP team operators for a job well done.*
