ORMOC CITY – Government forces unearthed on Thursday, September 5, an arms cache of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of Sitio Lanaga, Barangay Canca-iyas, Basey, Samar.
The discovery was made as part of the Army’s 63rd Infantry Battalion (63IB) operations aimed at dismantling the dwindling NPA forces in the region. The arms cache included a caliber .30 M1 Garand rifle and an anti-personnel mine (APM), banned under International Humanitarian Law (IHL).
The success is part of the ongoing operations targeting the Bugsok Platoon of the Sub-Regional Committee-SESAME, Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee (EVRPC), which operates in the area. The 63IB, under the 802nd Infantry Brigade of the 8th Infantry Division, has been leading efforts to weaken the remaining NPA elements in Samar.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Eduardo I. Meclat Jr., commander of the 63IB, the information provided by former rebels from the Bugsok Platoon, led to the discovery of the arms cache.
Meclat added that the Bugsok Platoon has been severely weakened, following the loss and capture of key personnel and the surrender of seven former members. The platoon now consists of only nine fighters, dispersed in the remote areas of southern part of Samar.
He also credited the Brigade’s Friends Rescued Engagement through their Families (FReE Families) program, which fosters sustained engagement with the families and relatives of active NPA members. The program, along with focused military operations and active stakeholder engagement, has been vital in securing peace and stability of the communities, he said.
Brigadier General Noel A. Vestuir, commander of the 802nd Infantry Brigade, commended the troops for gaining the trust and cooperation of former NPA members, local government units, and the community, transforming them into valuable partners in the pursuit of peace in the region.
“Through the concerted efforts of the Brigade’s units over the past three days, our troops successfully discovered and seized four high-powered firearms and an anti-personnel mine. These include an AK-47 and M16 rifle in Eastern Samar, a Garand rifle and APM in Samar, and another M16 rifle in Leyte,” Vestuir said.
Vestuir urged the remaining NPA members in Samar and Leyte to lay down their arms and abandon their struggle.
“The communities no longer welcome you but your families and loved ones are always ready to accept your return,” he said.
Vestuir encouraged NPA members to listen to their families and former comrades who have surrendered and now live peaceful, prosperous lives.
“The government is sincere in helping you choose the path of peace,” he added.
The continued recovery of NPA arms caches signals a major blow to the insurgency, as military operations further weaken the rebels’ capacity to sustain their campaign in the region. (802nd Brigade/8ID)
