An abandoned arsenal of explosives and ammunition — including a Claymore mine, grenades and commercial dynamite — was recovered by police and military forces in Ifugao on Sept. 28, following a tip from a former rebel.
The weapons were discovered in Tinoc after a surrendered rebel from a dismantled communist guerrilla group informed authorities about the hidden stockpile.
Acting on the intelligence, a joint task force of regional police units, the Special Action Force and the Philippine Army’s 501st and 54th Infantry Battalions secured the site.
Alongside the explosives, security forces seized 40 mm cartridges, detonating cords, bandoliers and various personal items.
Brig. Gen. Noel B. Vallo, Police Regional Office – Cordillera Administrative Region regional director, said the discovery illustrates how former insurgents can help safeguard their communities.
The informant’s decision to cooperate with the government, he added, neutralized a significant threat to local residents.
Vallo urged remaining members of communist groups to surrender, pointing to a state-sponsored integration program designed to help former fighters transition to civilian life.
The police chief added the recovery is part of a broader campaign to clear the Cordillera region of armed elements and stabilize the area for economic development. NLMonitor
