FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Two arms caches reportedly belonging to the New People’s Army were dug up July 1, in Barangay Sta. Juliana, Tarlac.
The 31 st Mechanized Infantry Company, 3 rd Mechanized Infantry (Makatarungan) Battalion; 790 th Air Base Group and 710 th Special Operations Wing, Philippine Air Force; National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-3, and Capas Municipal Police Station discovered the weapons belonging to the weakened Komiteng Larangang Guerrilla-Tarlac-Zambales (KLG-TarZam) following information provided by former NPA rebels.
The arms cache consisted of one M16A1 rifle, one M14 rifle, one M2 carbine, one KG9 submachine gun, one Beretta 9MM, three .38 pistols, one Magnum
.22 pistol, various ammunitions for 7.62MM and 5.56 MM and 9MM, 16 assorted magazines, one commercial radio, and medical and personal effects. In the last two months, the 3MB discovered three arms caches within their area of operation in Sitio Tala, Barangay Burgos, San Jose, Tarlac, and in Barangay Palis, Botolan, Zambales.
Lt. Col. Jeszer M Bautista, 3MB acting commanding officer, said: “Sunod-sunod ang ating pagkakatuklas sa mga nakatagong armas at kagamitan ng KLG-TarZam, nagpapatunay lamang ito na ang mga dati nilang kasamahan at ang mamamayan ay sawa na sa panlilinlang at panggagamit ng mga terorista, sila na mismo ang nagtuturo kung saan ito nakatago.”
For his part, Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Costelo, commander of the 7 th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, said: “Hindi magtatagal ay atin nang matutunton ang kinaroroonan ng mga armadong terorista para sa wakas ay matapos