DAVAO CITY — Two high-powered guns and undetermined number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were surrendered on Tuesday, March 1, to the Philippine Army’s 30th infantry battalion in Brgy. Magtangale, San Francisco, Surigao del Norte.
The surrender of the IEDs, one M16 rifle and one M79 grenade launcher was made possible when a former member of the Milisya ng Bayan of the New People’s Army (NPA) disclosed to the military the whereabouts of the guns and explosives being kept by the rebels.
Upon receipt of the information, the troops from the 30IB immediately conducted a Retrieval Operation to recover the high-powered guns and explosives that the NPAs used in their warfare against the government.
The government troops were conducting a Community Support Program (CSP) in Brgy. Magtangale when the entire members of the community were persuaded to cooperate with the government and to give up their support to the NPA. Lt. Col. Ryan Charles Callanta, commander of the 30IB, expressed his gratitude for the continued cooperation of the citizens with the government “so that we can achieve the peace we desire.” “First of all, I am grateful for the people’s continued cooperation with our Army.
It proves that we all desire a prosperous and peaceful life. Your 30IB Army will continue to protect you to the best of our ability. Let us continue to unite for peace and prosperity in Surigao del Norte,” Callanta said.
The military continues to conduct CSP in barangays in Surigao del Norte to assess the needs of the residents so that they can be addressed accordingly by the government through the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC).
