By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Army’s 79th Infantry Battalion (79IB) discovered a weapons cache belonging to the New People’s Army (NPA) at Barangay Washington’s Sitio Mocabog in Negros Occidental’s Escalante City late Monday night, March 11.

Lt. Colonel Arnel Calaoagan, 79IB commander, said their troops discovered and dug a weapons cache after they were informed by a concerned citizen.

Calaogan said the weapons belonged to the dismantled NPA’s Northern Negros Front.

Among the recoveries include a revolver, an improvised shotgun, assorted ammunition, and the insurgent group’s flag.

Calaogan commended the 79IB troops and the informant, adding that the discovery and confiscation of the weapons cache is a blow to the NPA.

He further stated that the seized weapons will be examined to determine if they were used during the encounters last month that claimed the lives of three NPA members.

Calaoagan has also renewed his call for the remnants of the Northern Negros Front to surrender, or they will face the consequences of their actions./DGB, WDJ