By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD CITY – Government forces unearthed an assortment of weapons and explosives at Sitio Makilo, Barangay Camansi, Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental yesterday.
The cache included a serviceable .357 caliber revolver, a serviceable homemade 12-gauge shotgun, two nonfunctional .38 caliber revolvers, a fragmentation grenade, a command wire improvised explosive device (IED), a blasting cap with wire, 205 rounds of 5.56 live ammunition, three live cartridges of 12-gauge shotgun, assorted live ammunition for various firearms, magazines, empty shells, a holster, a nonfunctional printer, subversive documents/medical handbook, and an array of medical supplies.
This successful joint operation was conducted by the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion (IB), 15th IB, and 604th Mobile Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB)-6, following a tip-off from an alert citizen.
Lieutenant Colonel Magno Mapalad, commander of the 47th IB, stated that further probes into the seized explosives and weapons are underway to glean information and investigate any potential links to terrorist or criminal activities.
In a statement, Mapalad commended the discovery of these hidden threats as a testament to the security forces’ unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of the community.
He highlighted the importance of citizen vigilance in supporting law enforcement’s ongoing struggle against insurgency and terrorism.
“We are grateful for the citizen’s courage and commitment to civic responsibility, which were crucial to the success of this operation,” he remarked.
Mapalad praised the collaborative effort between the local populace and security forces as a sterling example of their united determination to uphold peace and order in the region.
He called upon all residents to remain alert and to report any suspicious activities or items to the authorities promptly. He expressed confidence that a united front would be instrumental in thwarting terrorism and safeguarding the security and well-being of local communities.