Soldiers recover firearms, improvised bombs in Davao del Sur

January 12, 2018

Government troops have recovered high powered firearms and improvised bomb after an encounter with  alleged members of New People’s Army (NPA) in Davao del Sur on Thursday night.

Lt. Celine Castro, civil military operations officer of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion, said government troops were conducting checkpoint at the vicinity of Brgy. Tacul, Magsaysay, Davao del Sur when they were fired upon by the rebels on board single motorcycles around 11:30 pm.

“The Army troopers were conducting checkpoint when four NPA terrorists riding two motorcycles approached the checkpoint and fired upon the government troops which led to a 10-minute firefight before the enemy scampered for their lives as they jumped off a ravine leaving behind the war materiel,” she said.

Castro said no casualty was recorded while government forces have recovered nine high powered firearms and an improvised explosive device left by the rebels.

She said among the recovered items includes six M16 rifles, two AK47 rifles, one M14 rifle, one IED, assorted ammunition and magazines, and two Honda TMX motorcycles.

Lt. Col. Marion Angcao, commander of the Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion, said with the recovery of an improvised explosive device the government was able to pre-empt possible terrorist activity of the rebels.

“We have been gaining ground and materiel against the NPA due to our relentless combat operations,” he said.

“This is also a manifestation that NPA planned terroristic activities against military, police and civilians were pre-empted due to pro-active measures we have been conducting with the help of the communities who despise conflict, terrorism and extortion,” he added. Robina Asido/DMS