NE police director Col. Rhoderick Campo checks war material. Photo by Armand M. Galang
CABANATUAN CITY – The cache of arms dug up by government security agents in Pantabangan town on Saturday as well as the war materiel surrendered by former rebels were subjected to immediate ballistics tests.
Acting Nueva Ecija police director Col. Rhoderick Campo said Monday the test may lead to resolution of other crimes where the arms and ammunition might have been used.
“There is a judicial process for these things,” Campo said during a press briefing at the PNP Hostel here.
Campo, who assumed the post on Saturday, said the discovery of the arms cache that included high-powered ammunition was a result of a “major combat operation in the mountainous area” in Barangay Sampaloc, Pantabangan by the provincial mobile force company led by Lt. Col. Barnard Danie Dasugo, along with other police and military units.
Among the seized items are an M203 40mm grenade launcher ammunition, two rocket propelled grenade ammunitions, 29 cartridges for cal. 5.56, 18 cartridges for cal. 7.62, 14 cartridges for M1 Garand rifle, magazines, and a bandolier vest.
“Based on our assessment, the different war materials and high-powered ammunition belonged to enemies who were then on the run,” Campo said.
Campo also reported on the earlier surrender of 12 alleged former rebels who supposedly surfaced with their respective guns.
