By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Police recovered a cache of firearms, ammunition and other materials believed to have been concealed by communist rebels in a forested area of Baggao, Cagayan, authorities said Thursday.
The Cagayan Provincial Police Office said the cache was located in Sitio Tagang, Barangay Bunugan, after a rebel returnee led authorities to the site.
Police Maj. Abdel Aziz Maximo, commander of the 1st Cagayan Provincial Mobile Force Company, said the operation yielded an M1 Garand rifle, a Garand magazine and three M16 magazines.
Authorities also recovered four 1.5-volt dry cells, two rounds of M76B HE grenade rifle ammunition with bull traps, a 12.4-volt battery and 59 assorted rounds of ammunition for short and long firearms.
Anti-government documents were likewise found at the site.
Police Capt. Florentino Sibal, platoon leader, headed the operation, which involved personnel from the Baggao police, Army soldiers and members of a regional intelligence unit.
The recovered firearms, ammunition and other materials were subsequently turned over to the Provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit (PECU) for documentation and safekeeping.
The recovery marked another operation in the province targeting weapons and materials believed to have been left behind by communist insurgents.
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