Army, PNP seize firearms, war materiel from communist rebels in Nueva Ecija

The Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police (PNP) seized firearms and war materiel from a discovered communist group’s depot in Nueva Ecija.

Personnel from the Army's 91st Infantry Battalion and the PNP's 1st Police Mobile Force Company conducted the joint operation and discovered the communist rebels’ depot in the hinterland of Barangay Labi, Bongabon, Nueva Ecija  on Monday.

Lieutenant Colonel Reandrew Rubio, commanding officer of the 91st Infantry Battalion, said the authorities seized an M16 rifle with magazine and ammunition, improvised landmine, rifle grenade, blasting caps, and assorted medical supplies.

Newly installed Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Lieutenant General Andres Centino lauded the government forces for their continuous efforts in “eradicating the threat brought by insurgency.”

"I commend the joint forces of 91IB and PNP in Nueva Ecija for the seizure of the CTG's war materials,” Centino said in a statement on Wednesday.

“We need to disarm these bandits and stop their resource generation to render them insignificant and prevent them from attacking civilians and government forces," he added. — Richa Noriega/BM, GMA News