Military recovers high-powered firearms from alleged NPAs in Samar

May 4, 2020

Government forces recovered high-powered firearms in a brief encounter with alleged New People's Army (NPA) members in Samar province on Monday.

In a report, Lt. Col. Rhomel Langcauon, commanding officer of 46th Infantry Battalion said troops encountered around five armed men believed to be under the group of alias Pilo at Brgy. Magdawat, Pinabacdao, Samar at 5:05 am.

"The troops were conducting security operations while confirming the veracity of the information relayed by the locals on the presence of armed individuals harassing the community when they chanced upon the said rebels passing in the area," he said.

Langcauon said soldiers recovered  two M16 rifles with one plastic short magazine with 20 ammunition; two backpacks and personal belongings; one bandolier with one long plastic magazine with 16 ammunition; four improvised hand grenades; one Improvised Explosive Device (IED) approximately weighing 10 kilograms; one unserviceable binocular and  subversive documents.

Langcauon said the war materiel were brought to the headquarters of 46th Infantry Battalion for proper documentation and disposition.

He said the government side had no casualty or injury while there appears to be deaths from the enemy side ''based on the bloodstains on their way of withdrawal.''

In his message, Col. Camilo Ligayo, 801st Brigade Commander said, “the commitment of the people of Pinabacdao is a response to the serious campaign of the different government agencies in ending this local armed conflict through Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict which serves as leading example to other communities.” Robina Asido/DMS