Army Recovers Arms Cache in Surigao del Sur, Bolstering Regional Security

The Philippine Army has dealt another blow to armed elements in the Caraga region after troops recovered buried high-powered rifles and assorted ammunition in a hinterland village of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur. Soldiers from the Army’s 30th Infantry Battalion, under the 4th Infantry Division, uncovered the weapons cache in Signalnan, Sitio Katarugan, Barangay Lobo. The seized cache yielded an M14 rifle, an M1 Garand rifle, five 20-round detachable box magazines, 32 rounds of .30 caliber ammunition, and 89 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition. READ: Army recovers alleged NPA arms cache in Oriental Mindoro The weapons are believed to be from communist rebels. The recovery forms part of the Army’s drive to secure local communities, block any resurgence of armed conflict, and lock down peace gains in previously conflict-affected zones. Lt. Col. Rey Vergel Annogui, commanding officer of the 30th IB, said the operation reflects the troops’ resolve to safeguard the area from renewed violence. “This successful operation demonstrates our troops’ unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and sustaining the gains we have achieved in our areas of responsibility,” Annogui said. Maj. Gen. Marion Angcao, commander of the 4th Infantry Division, commended the 30th IB for sustaining the division’s security momentum. Angcao emphasized that vigilance and close coordination among the military, local government units, communities, and key stakeholders remain critical to keeping communist terrorist groups from regaining access to firearms and destabilizing the Caraga region./coa