CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - Joint forces from the 86th, 95th and 98th Infantry Battalions under the 5th Infantry Division, Philippine Army and San Mariano Police Station recently discovered an arm cache believed to be owned by Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) operating in San Mariano town.

 Maj. Gen. Laurence Mina, Commander of 5ID, PA based in Gamu town, said that through the information shared by former rebels who have surrendered to them, the arms cache was discovered on July 5 at Sitio Pili, Tappa, San Mariano, Isabela. 

Mina said the arm cache is composed of 5 M16 rifles belonged to the CTGs where the said firearms were hidden by CTG members who left the organization due to hardship and misunderstanding among other members of the Regional Sentro De Grabidad.

The 5ID, PA commander lauded the efforts made by 86IB, 95IB, 98IB for their collaborative actions to ensure peace and order in their respective area of operations to thwart the threat of terrorism.

Mina also lauded the truthful information provided by the Former Rebels for the discovered the arm cache and recovery war materials in San Mariano town.

“The NPA’s manpower and firepower are continuously decreasing. Their recruitment strategy has been exposed to the communities leading to their difficulty in deceiving new recruits. All of these substantial accomplishments significantly weakened their capability to conduct atrocities against the people and the government forces,” Mina said. (MDCT/MGE/PIA Isabela/With reports from 5ID Startroopers)