ILIGAN CITY (July 30) – The Regional Mobile Force intercepted a food cache believed to be owned by the New People’s Army while patrolling the hinterland part of Sitio Larapan, Barangay Dominorog, Talakag in Bukidnon, early Sunday morning.
Around 40 containers filled with rice, sugar, salt and mongo beans were recovered. The items were buried and believed to be enroute to an undisclosed NPA encampment, according to Senior Inspector Zean Paul Cubil, Company Commander of 1004th Mobile Company of the PNP’s mobile force.
“We truly appreciate the help and cooperation of concerned individuals who tipped us off about this NPA food cache which we believe have come from NPA extortion activities,” Cubil said. “This only shows the growing distrust of the community to the NPA who have been victimizing them,” he added.
PNP 10 Regional Director Chief Superintendent Timoteo Pacleb also emphasized the role of the community in the government fight against terrorism. “The support of the community is indispensable in bringing peace and development in Northern Mindanao and the information provided to our troops today that led to the discovery of these food cache is an example of that valuable community support,” Pacleb said.
Superintendent Surki Sereñas, spokesperson of Police Regional Office 10, also underscored his warning on unwitting terrorist supporters. “We also warned those who give aid to these terrorist group to stop. Giving assistance to terrorist group is a crime and is punishable under the law,” he added.
It can be recalled that on February this year, a food cache allegedly owned by the NPA was discovered by soldiers of the 88th Infantry Battalion at Sitio Bulacao, Barangay Concepcion, Valencia City, Bukidnon. The soldiers were conducting focused military operations in the area when they found some 40 sacks of rice, medical and food supplies, all placed inside plastic containers. (Divina Suson/NewsLine)
