By Alexander Lopez
BUTUAN CITY – Troopers from the Philippine Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) recovered eight high-powered firearms during a series of operations in the hinterlands of Butuan City and Santiago, Agusan del Norte on Oct. 1.
In a statement on Friday, the 29IB said the recovery of the firearms came after the surrender of three New People’s Army (NPA) rebels who pinpointed the exact locations of the hidden weapons.
Two of the former rebels were identified as Efren Angeles Hilwano and Santiago Langgamon Galla III, who belonged to Platoon 1 of the NPA Sub-Regional Sentro De Grabidad Westland under the North Eastern Mindanao Regional Committee. Both yielded to the 2IB on Oct. 1.
The two led Army troops in the hinterlands of Barangay Pianing, Butuan City, where two AK-47 rifles, an M4 rifle, three M203 grenade launchers, magazines, ammunition, and homemade bomb components were recovered.
Meanwhile, Maximo Vibas, a former rebel who has been with the 29IB for over a year, also disclosed on Oct. 1 the location of an M203 grenade launcher in the vicinity of Manhupao Complex, Santiago, Agusan del Norte.
“The recent surrenders of the remaining NPA rebels marked a significant reduction of their presence in the communities,” Lt. Col. Mark Tabon, the 29IB commander, said.
The recovered firearms, he added, are evidence of the small number of remaining NPA rebels, with the excess weapons being surrendered by their comrades. (PNA)
