TROOPS of the 4th Infantry Division (4ID) uncovered two separate hidden weapon caches, seizing several high-powered rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in Bukidnon and Surigao del Sur.
The back-to-back operations, driven by localized intelligence, took place over the last two weeks, yielding military-grade weaponry believed to have been stashed by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).
Bukidnon seizure: M4 Carbine and ammunition
The first operation occurred on July 4, 2026, in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
Acting on intelligence gathered after recent skirmishes involving the 1st Special Forces Battalion and the 8th Infantry Battalion, troops from the 88th Infantry Battalion, led by LTCOL Arnold M. Bautista, launched a focused military operation.
Soldiers searched an abandoned hut in Sitio Matangpatang, Barangay Miglamin, where they uncovered one M4A1 Carbine Rifle, one Caliber .30 Carbine Rifle, two magazines, 138 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, 48 rounds of Caliber .30 ammunition, and two military backpacks.
The operation was conducted under the direct supervision of BGEN Seigfred C. Tubalado, commander of the 403rd Infantry Brigade.
Surigao del Sur seizure: Defaced AK-47s
Nine days later, on July 13, joint forces from the 30th and 36th infantry battalions launched an operation in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur.
The joint unit, led by LTCOL Rey Vergel A. Annogui (30IB) and LTCOL Joselito B. Ante Jr. (36IB), dug up three AK-47 rifles with defaced serial numbers from a concealed arms cache in Sitio Tubakon, Barangay Bitaugan.
The weapons were immediately transported to the 30IB headquarters in Barangay Santa Cruz, Placer, Surigao del Norte, for inventory and disposition under the direction of 401st Infantry Brigade commander COL Benjamin L. Leander.
Tubalado and Leander issued a joint statement highlighting the success of the military strategy of choking the logistical lines of active threat groups.
MGEN Marion T. Angcao, Commander of the 4ID, commended the ground troops for the accomplishment.
“These intelligence-driven successes reflect our unwavering commitment to safeguarding communities and preventing the resurgence of armed threats within our area of responsibility,” Angcao said, adding that the division will sustain its proactive security footprint in Northeastern Mindanao.
