FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija — The Philippine Army (PA) recently discovered an arms cache at Barangay Dumawing, in the town of Jones, Isabela.

According to the PA, the 86th Infantry (Highlander) Battalion, 502nd Infantry Brigade and the Philippine National Police (PNP) was conducting an operation in the aforementioned barangay when it discovered the arms cache.

The war materiel recovered included one M16A1 rifle, three magazines and 38 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition. The arms cache is believed to have been used by the dismantled Platoon Uno, Regional Sentro De Gravidad, Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley.

The operation was made possible through a tip-off from a former NPA contact, underscoring the increasing cooperation between the local community and government forces. This development follows the declaration of Jones, Isabela, as insurgency-free on 4 December 2023, achieving the Stable Internal Peace and Security status.

Notably, this marks the second arm cache discovered in the province in recent months. On 19 October, a similar operation in Sitio Lising, Barangay Sto. Niño, San Agustin, Isabela, also resulted in the first arm cache discovery. The recent recovery further affirms the growing trust of the people in the government’s efforts to sustain peace and security in the area.