TACLOBAN CITY– Government troops recovered a cache of high-powered firearms allegedly belonging to the communist rebels in Can-avid, Eastern Samar.
The recovered high-powered firearms include five M14 rifles, four M16 rifles, a shotgun, an M79 grenade launcher, and assorted ammunitions and explosives in Barangay Buco.
The firearms were recovered after the soldiers belonging to the 42nd Infantry Battalion conducted a strike operation on July 15.
“We will be stepping up our military and non-military operations to track down the location of communist New People’s Army (NPA) terrorists’ loose firearms and prevent their recovery efforts here in Eastern Samar,” said Lieutenant Colonel Rodito Gotladera, commander of the 42nd IB.
Meantime, Major General Camilo Ligayo, the commanding general of the 8th Infantry Division, lauded the accomplishment of the 42nd IB saying it will contribute to the ending of the communist insurgency in the region.
He also reiterated their target to quell the decades-long insurgency problem of the region within this year.
“During the visit of President Bongbong Marcos (in Northern Samar), he said that he is confident that we can finish the fight against the insurgents by the end of the year in the region. Having been said by the President, I am also confident we can really end the insurgency problem but of course through our collaborative efforts,” he added.
(RONALD O. REYES)
