RODRIGUEZ, Rizal – The military seized a hidden arms cache in Rodriguez, Rizal, on November 2, thwarting efforts by remnants of communist insurgent groups to rebuild their firepower in Central Luzon.
Troops from the Joint Task Group (JTG) 7-2 uncovered the weapons stash in a remote forested area of Sitio Macaingalan, Barangay Puray. According to reports from the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade, the cache—linked to the dismantled Komiteng Rehiyon Gitnang Luzon (KRGL) and Komiteng Larangang Gerilya (KLG) Narciso—included:
- Two M653 rifles (Serial Nos. L923413, SER063193)
- Two M16A1 rifles (RP164013, 293180)
- Two .45 caliber pistols with three magazines
- 205 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition
- Communication equipment, including an ICOM radio
Brigadier General Eugenio Julio C. Osias IV, commander of the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade and head of JTG 7-2, attributed the operation’s success to a “strong military-civilian partnership” in a statement obtained by DAILY TRIBUNE.
“This recovery proves that cooperation between our troops and the community is vital in denying terrorists the means to sow fear. We urge all residents to stay vigilant,” Osias said.
Military reports revealed that the KRGL and KLG Narciso, declared dismantled in 2023, have been attempting to regroup through clandestine arms stockpiling. Officials are now tracing the recovered weapons’ origins and potential links to other insurgent cells.
The JTG 7-2 vowed to sustain operations to prevent the resurgence of communist terrorism in the region, emphasizing that civilian cooperation remains critical to dismantling insurgent networks.