DAVAO CITY — Soldiers of the 56th Infantry Battalion (56IB) recovered an arms cache buried by the New Peoples Army (NPA) in the hinterlands of Talaingod, Davao del Norte, on 26 December.

In a statement on Wednesday, the 56IB said the soldiers were accompanied by former rebels (FR) and unearthed the high-powered firearms in Sitio Nalubas, Brgy. Palma Gil in Talaingod.

Troops recovered one Bushmaster M4 Assault Rifle 2, one Colt M4 Assault Rifle, three long magazine assemblies, and 96 rounds of Cal. 5.56mm ammunition.

The FR revealed that NPA members buried the weapons as excess firearms following successive encounters and massive surrender of red fighters that resulted in shortage of manpower to handle the said firearms.

BGen. Marion Angcao, the commander of the 1003rd Infantry Brigade covering the area said, the recovery of the firearms showed the futility of NPA's failed ideology as more and more of their members now find the true light and discover the deception done to them.

"We call on the remaining NPA to go back in the fold of the law while they can. Our troops will be relentless in pursuing the remnants of this lawless group", Angcao added.

Meanwhile, in a separate but related effort of soldiers, two NPA members on lie-low status surrendered to 56IB on Christmas Eve.

Alias Samuel and alias Genna surrendered one cal.38 revolver with two pieces of ammunition and one improvised explosive device fashioned as an anti-personnel landmine weighing four kilos.

BGen. Allan Hambala, the commander of the 10th Infantry Division, lauded the efforts of soldiers in keeping the NPA at bay as he also encouraged the latter to pursue a peaceful path to change.

"It is our fervent hope that our long lost brothers and sisters who are still in the mountains heed the call of the people for them to lay down their arms, pursue peaceful means, be productive members of the society, and enjoy being with their respective families especially in times like this when we celebrate Christmas" he added.