MANILA, Philippines — Indiscriminate firing by the New People’s Army (NPA) caused irate Sorsogon locals to tip off government forces about the communist rebels’ weapons cache, including land mines.
Army personnel and Bicol police officers found on Tuesday at Barangay San Bartolome in Sta. Magdalena, Sorsogon, an M16 rifle; antipersonnel mines; three sacks containing 212 magazines for M16 rifles; some 5,000 rounds of 5.56-mm ammunition; and 34 blasting caps.
Army 22nd Infantry Battalion commander Lt. Col. Nelson Mico said the tip from locals showed “their utter disgust with the nuisance caused by communist rebels.”
For 903rd Infantry Brigade commander Col. Aldwine Almase, the seizure of the arms cache thwarted atrocities the NPA rebels would have committed.