DAVAO CITY (Mindanao Examiner / Apr. 6, 2012) – Government troops recovered a cache of improvised explosives and anti-government propaganda of the communist rebel group New People’s Army in the southern Philippines, officials said Friday.
Officials said information provided by civilians led soldiers to the cache on a village called Maragatas in the town of Lupon in Davao Oriental province.
“Troops conducting security patrol, acted upon the revelation of some residents of Sitio Logdeck in Maragatas regarding another NPA armed cache that resulted to the recovery of another six improvised explosives and assorted subversive documents,” said Lt. Col. Leopoldo Imbang, commander of the 28thInfantry Battalion.
Imbang said the explosives were handed over to the local police.
“The recovered explosives are intended to inflict casualties upon our troops doing peace and development outreach program in the villages. Leaving these hazardous explosive landmines endanger the lives of the civilians and economic infrastructures,” he said.
“The continuing efforts of the unit in gaining the thrust and confidence of the people and the sincerity of the provincial government in addressing the insurgency through their local social integration program convinced some residents and even NPA mass supporters to cooperate and help the military in winning the peace.”
The rebels have been fighting for decades for the establishment of a Maoist state in the country. (Mindanao Examiner)
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