The Philippine Army said it recovered additional war materials allegedly hidden by members of the New People’s Army (NPA) during separate operations in Masbate following the surrender of five alleged rebels earlier this month.
According to the 65th Infantry Battalion (65IB), the operations came after five alleged NPA members surrendered on June 18 and June 22, 2026.
On June 25, troops recovered four M16 rifle magazines and 139 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition along the boundary of Cataingan and Palanas towns.
Two days later, on June 27, another operation in Placer led to the discovery of an ammunition cache after authorities received information from a concerned resident.
The Army said soldiers recovered 69 M16 rifle magazines and 367 serviceable rounds of 5.56mm ammunition concealed inside two plastic buckets.
The recovered items were documented, placed under the custody of the battalion and prepared for turnover to the appropriate authorities.
The military said the series of recoveries followed the surrender of former NPA members and the subsequent discovery of what it described as hidden war materials in different parts of Masbate.
The Armed Forces refers to the NPA as the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG).
The 65IB also acknowledged residents who provided information through social media and other communication platforms, saying the reports helped authorities locate the hidden ammunition.
The battalion urged the public to remain vigilant and continue reporting suspicious activities to authorities to help maintain peace and security in the province.
The recovered ammunition and magazines remain under government custody pending the completion of documentation and turnover procedures.
