DAVAO CITY –— Personnel from the 72nd Infantry Battalion of the 10th Infantry “Agila” Division unearthed an arms cache on Thursday, May 19 at Brgy Sinaysayan in the municipality of Kitaotao, Bukidnon province.
Barangay SInaysayan is located at the borders of the provinces of North Cotabato and Bukidnon, it is a secluded village and most of the residents belong to Indigenous People’s.
Lieutenant Colonel Jose C Regonay Jr., Commanding Officer of 72IB, informed Agila Divison Commander Major General Nolasco Mempin that the area where the arms cache were hidden was revealed by Mayunie Man-inday Sayad alias “King”.
King according to Regonay, years old and a full-time member of Guerilla Front 57, who surrendered to their unit on May 19.
During his surrender Sayad revealed fear and hunger caused by the sustained Focus-Military Operations (FMO) prompted him to return to the folds of the law.
The recently discovered arms cache included six (6) high-powered firearms and war materiel at Brgy Sinaysayan, Kitaotao, Bukidnon on May 20, 2022. Two (2) M16A1 rifles, two (2) M4 Carbines, one (1) M653 rifle, one (1) M14 rifle, four (4) M16 magazines, and four (4) bandoliers.
The surrender of Sayad was facilitated by Barangay Chairman Thelma Hilaria ofof New Kabalantian in Arakan, North Cotabato.
Sayad claimed he personally buried firearms due to exhaustion from carrying it while they were escaping from the FMO launched by 72IB.
Maj. Gen. Nolasco lauded 72IB for their relentless effort to end the Communist Insurgency in their area of operations. He also thanked the community, especially the local leaders in the area, for their continuous support to the government forces.
“To the remaining Communist NPA Terrorists, we again call for your surrender. Just like Sayad, you can choose to peacefully surrender and avail of the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program. However, if you choose otherwise, rest assured that 10ID will use its military might to destroy the Communist Terrorist Group that brought violence and fear to our countrymen for the past five decades.” MGen Mempin added.-Editha Z. Caduaya
