By Jennifer P. Rendon
Firearms, ammunition, and improvised explosive device (IED) materials were unearthed evening of August 10 in a hinterland village in Janiuay, Iloilo.
Joint elements of the PNP’s 603rd Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RFMB) 6 and the Philippine Army’s 82nd Infantry Battalion dug up the items at Barangay Barasalon, Janiuay following a tip from residents.
Among the items recovered were an Elisco M16 Armalite rifle with defaced serial number, an M16 Colt Armalite rifle (serial number 4911774), a lower receiver of a caliber .45 pistol M1911 (serial number 217519), 88 rounds of 5.56mm ball ammos, eight blasting caps, two IED detonators, magazines, a mobile phone, and a Baofeng radio.
Police Major Norbert Sipole of the 603rd Company said that the items were placed inside a sack before they were buried.
“It is likely that members of the New People’s Army (NPA) kept those things buried,” he said.
Sipole added that they could be from members of the Baloy Platoon of the NPA’s Komiteng Rehiyon-Panay.
“Maybe, they were already contemplating surrendering. As they are yet to yield, they temporarily hid the firearms and ammunition in the area,” he said.
But before the rebels could take them back, Sipole said residents were quick to report it.
