The Western Mindanao Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines disclosed that it has recovered a high-powered firearm used by a former New People's Army rebel who was recently captured in Misamis Occidental.
AFP-WesMinCom Public Affairs chief Major Andrew Linao on Thursday said the recovered 7362mm RPK-47 light machine gun with bipod and three empty magazines was owned by an alias Yumi, who served as a political instructor of the NPA's Guerilla Front-Sendong operating in Western Mindanao areas.
Linao said the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Battalion conducted a search and recovery weapon after Yumi revealed that she buried the firearm underneath a large boulder at Barangay San Lorenzo Ruiz in Sinacaban town.
"The former rebel revealed that the firearm was damaged during the armed encounter with the government forces in Barangay Bagong Baguio, Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte on 15 September," Linao said.
AFP WesMinCom commander MGen. Steve Crespillo said the series of surrenders and recovery of firearms only "manifests the downfall of the communist terrorist group in Mindanao."