CITY OF ILAGAN, Isabela (PIA) - - Joint elements from the 86th Infantry Battalion, 95th Infantry Battalion, 205th Maneuver Company, Regional Mobile Force Company, 2nd Isabela Provincial Mobile Force Company, and Echague Municipal Police Station recovered an arms cache in Sitio Galgalba, San Miguel, Echague, Isabela recently.

502nd Infantry Brigade Commander B/Gen. Eugene Mata said that the arms cache in the town of Echague was discovered through a tip from a former rebel (FR) under the custody of the military.

According to Mata, the arms cache contained three  M16 rifles, six  long magazines, 67 pieces 5.56 live ammunitions, and one  Icom radio, which were left by the Rehiyong Sentrong De Grabidad, Komiteng Rehiyon Cagayan Valley (RSDG, KR-CV) after the encounter last March 15, 2021 in Brgy. San Mariano Sur, San Guillermo, Isabela, where the FR was tasked to bury the firearms of their comrades who escaped and died in the encounter.

Mata further said that the recovery was attributed to the on-going Intensified Military Operations in Cagayan, which paved the way to the surrender of FR and led to the recovery of the firearms and ammunitions.

He also stated that the retrieval of the arms cache of the CTGs proved that the enemies are in the brink of collapse as he urged the remaining members of the CTGs to surrender to the folds of the law.  (MGE / PIA Isabela with reports from 86IB)