TROOPS from the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB) unearthed a hidden arms cache belonging to New People’s Army (NPA) remnants in the hinterlands of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, dealing another blow to insurgent capabilities in the Caraga Region.
The recovery took place on Thursday, Sept. 3, in the vicinity of Signalnan, Sitio Katarugan in Barangay Lobo.
Among the recovered items were one M14 rifle, one M1 Garand rifle, five 20-round detachable box magazines, 32 rounds of .30-caliber ammunition, and 89 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition.
LTCOL. Rey Vergel A. Annogui, commanding officer of the 30IB, said the operation prevents communist insurgents from reusing firearms to intimidate local communities or disrupt peace in the province.
“This successful operation demonstrates our troops’ unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and sustaining the gains we have achieved in our areas of responsibility,” Annogui said. “We call on our communities to remain vigilant and continue working with us in building a safer, more peaceful, and progressive Surigao.”
MGEN Marion T. Angcao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, commended the 30IB personnel for the accomplishment, stressing the importance of sustained collaboration between the military, local government units, and communities to prevent armed groups from regaining ground in Caraga.
