• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Another high-powered assault rifle and its ammunition that was hidden by remnants of the New People’s Army, were discovered and unearthed by Army soldiers in Sitio Mansulao, Barangay Pinapugasan, Escalante City, Negros Occidental.
Lt. Col. Arnel Calaoagan,79th Infantry Battalion commander, disclosed that the recovery of the M653 assault rifle with ammunition, was based on the information provided by four former rebels, who recently surrendered to his unit.
On July 29, two M14 assault rifles, a caliber .30 M1 garand rifle and a shotgun were also recovered by the 79IB, through the help of four former rebels, Calaoagan said.
The recovered firearms were hidden by remnants of the dismantled NPA Northern Negros Front, following series of encounters in the barangay with Army soldiers on February this year.
Last week, three suspected rebels also died in separate encounters with 15th Infantry Battalion soldiers in Cauayan and Sipalay City, which also led to the recovery of four fragmentation grenades, two caliber .45 pistols and a homemade 12-gauge shotgun with ammunition.*
