The military on Tuesday recovered several high-powered firearms allegedly being used by the New People's Army in the hinterlands of Talaingod in Davao del Norte.
In time of the 55th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on 26 December, a platoon of soldiers from the Philippine Army's 56th Infantry Battalion was able to locate the buried firearms after receiving reports from former rebels.
Soldiers recovered a Bushmaster M4 Assault Rifle bearing Serial Number: L172522, a Colt M4 Assault Rifle with Serial Number: 223007, three long magazine assemblies; and 96 rounds of Cal. 5.56 mm ammunition buried in the remote area of Sitio Nalubas, Brgy Palma Gil in Talaingod.
Major Mark Anthony Tito, the Army's 10th Infantry Division spokesperson, said former NPA members revealed that the recovered firearms were part of the communist's excess weapons.
He added that successive encounters and surrenders of former NPA members in the area resulted in a shortage of manpower to handle firearms.
The 5IB also reported that two NPA rebels that were on "lie-low status"—identified as alias Samuel and alias Gemma— surrendered to the government troops on Christmas Eve.
"Soldiers were having their "boodlefight" in celebration of the coming Christmas when the husband and wife duo together with their small children arrived accompanied by operating troops who negotiated their surrender," Tito told the reporters.
The couple along with their children voluntarily approached the army detachment in the area and decided to return to the folds of the law.
They brought with them a cal.38 revolver with two pieces of ammunition and an improvised explosive device fashioned as an anti-personnel landmine weighing four kilos.
"The newly surrendered tandem and their children were immediately invited by soldiers to join and eat with them," Tito said.
BGen. Marion Angcao, brigade commander of 1003IB operating in Talaingod, said the recovery of the rebels' high-powered weapons signified the decline in the communists' armed revolution.
"The recovery of CNT firearms by soldiers came as the Communist Party of the Philippines is supposed to be celebrating its anniversary, this shows the futility of their failed ideology as more and more of their members now find the true light and discover the deception done to them," Angcao said.
5th Infantry Division commander, BGen. Allan Hambala lauded the soldiers' efforts to foil rebel activities during the observance of the holiday season.
Hambala also urged the remaining NPA members to surrender to the government forces.
"We take pleasure in knowing that our citizens continue to be safe due to the diligence of our soldiers in making communities secure and away from harm. 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 society and enjoy being with their respective families especially in times like this when we celebrate Christmas," he said.