By Alexander Lopez

RECOVERED EXPLOSIVES. Army troopers from the 48th Infantry Battalion recover explosives, which were stockpiled by the communist New People’s Army in Barangay Bugsukan, Butuan City, on Sept. 11, 2025. The Army slammed the NPA for endangering the lives of civilians in the area. (Photo courtesy of 901Bde)

BUTUAN CITY – The Philippine Army’s 48th Infantry Battalion (48IB) denounced the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for endangering residents by stockpiling improvised explosive devices (IEDs) close to a community in Butuan City.

The 48IB troopers recovered the explosives in Purok 6, Barangay Bugsukan on Sept. 11, following the disclosure of an NPA member who recently surrendered.

Recovered at the site were 20 kilograms (kgs) of ammonium nitrate contained in a white plastic container, 15 kg of ammonium nitrate in a black plastic container, four blasting caps with detonating cords, and two 40-meter lengths of electric wire.

“When detonated, these explosives are capable of causing damage and casualties within a 50-meter radius, posing a significant threat to nearby barangay,” 48IB commander Lt. Col. Kenny Rae Tizon said in a statement on Sunday.

The IEDs were recovered just one kilometer away from Barangay Bugsukan, he said.

Tizon lauded the cooperation of alias “Julia,” a former member of Sub-Regionl Sentro de Grabidad Westland of the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee of the NPA.

“Julia” revealed that their leaders forced them to stockpile the explosives near populated areas.

Tizon noted that the use and stockpiling of landmines violate the Ottawa Convention or the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, signed by 133 states, including the Philippines, which prohibits the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of anti-personnel mines, recognizing their potential for indiscriminate harm to civilians, including children.

Col. Manuel Darius Resuello, acting commander of the 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde), emphasized that the Army’s foremost concern is ensuring the safety of communities and residents.

“We will not allow these communist terrorist groups (CTGs) to continue terrorizing and harming innocent civilians. Our unwavering commitment to protecting the lives of our fellow Caraganons drives us to intensify our efforts in defeating the remaining CTG threats in our areas of responsibility,” Resuello said.

The 48IB operates under the operational control of the 901Bde in parts of Butuan City and in Sibagat and Bayugan City in Agusan del Sur. (PNA)