PJAMESTREMEDAL
Associate editor
GUIPOS, ZAMBOSUR—Various war equipment and subversive documents believed to be owned by suspected New Peoples Army (NPA) were unearthed by the 53rd Infantry Battalion last week.
Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Gayongorza said he believes the booty is part of the CPP-NPA arms cache hidden by the rebels to keep the military from finding it while conducting its offensives in the hinterland areas of their turf.
Actually, it was from the tales of residents of Brgy. Ocapan, San Miguel which reached the ears of 2Lt. Michael Jameson Constantino of the Alpha Company that assorted war materials were buried somewhere in the area.
Army diggers found and recovered an M-16 rifle, two cal.30 M-1 Garand Rifles, a home made Shotgun, a 357 revolver, 53 rounds ammunition for M-16 and three short magazines, one O2N VHF handheld radio, three VHF radio.
There were also assorted medical paraphernalia, subversive documents that contain articles and writings of the members of Front Committee “Kara” of the Western Mindanao Revolutionary Party Committee (WMRPC).
Gayongorza said the different civic activities and welfare programs being implemented by the 53rd IB in the area have deprived the communist insurgents of mass supporters as many subsequently decided to hide their firearms and or deserted the organization.
Meanwhile, MGen. Nehemias Pajarito, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Col Alexander Dicang of the 102 Army Brigade commended the 53rd IB.
They likewise cited the bravery and openness of the civilians to tell them of the hidden arms cache.
As of this writing, the office of the Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process is in the process of reinforcing the Social Integration Program (SIP) thru the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) for its implementation.
The PPOC, during its recent initial inter-agency meeting, has revealed that there are 21 new surrenderees in Zambosur that need government assistance.