DAVAO CITY — State troops from the 56th Infantry Battalion recovered an arms cache buried by New People's Army in the hinterlands of Talaingod, Davao del Norte on 26 December 2023.

In a statement Wednesday, the 56IB said the soldiers were accompanied by former rebels and unearthed high-powered firearms in Sitio Nalubas, Barangay 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 former rebels revealed that NPA members buried the weapons as excess firearms following successive encounters and massive surrender of red fighters that resulted to shortage of manpower to handle the firearms.

1003rd Infantry Brigade commander BGen. Marion Angcao said that the recovery of the firearms showed futility of NPAs 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 said.

Meanwhile, two individuals believed to be NPA members on lie-low status surrendered to 56IB on Christmas Eve.

The insurgents — identified as alias Samuel and alias Genna — surrendered one cal.38 revolver with ammunition and one improvised explosive device fashioned as 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 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,"  Hambala said.