By Teofilo Garcia, Jr.
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Government troops recovered 295 grenades from an arms cache believed to be hidden by remnants of the Dawlah Islamiya-Maute Group (DI-MG) in the hinterlands of Lanao del Sur, the military said Thursday.
Maj. Gen. Yegor Rey Barroquillo Jr., 1st Infantry Division commander, said troops of the Army’s 55th Infantry Battalion (55IB) discovered the cache Wednesday in Barangay Piagolongan, Marogong, Lanao del Sur.
“The sheer volume of explosives recovered—nearly 300 hand grenades in a single cache—represents a significant blow to the operational capacity of the threat group in the area,” Barroquillo said in a statement.
“Their removal from circulation directly translates to lives protected, communities secured, and the prevention of potential mass casualty attacks,” he added.
Barroquillo said the community played a significant role, with their cooperation and trust in the security forces leading to the discovery and recovery of the cache.
“This act of civic courage reflects a meaningful shift in the communities of Lanao del Sur towards a growing preference for peace over the presence of instruments of conflict in their midst,” he said.
He commended the 55IB troops and the community for their collective effort, emphasizing that operations of such magnitude are made possible by the trust and cooperation between the military and the people it serves.
Barroquillo said they remain steadfast in their mission to dismantle terrorist networks, recover hidden war materiel, and ensure lasting peace and security in Western Mindanao. (PNA)
