Joint PNP-PA Operations Yield High-Powered Firearms, Uniforms

The joint law enforcement operations conducted by the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 2 of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the 86 Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army (PA) recovered high-powered firearms and uniforms that were hidden in the forested areas of Dicimungal, Nagtipunan, Quirino.

Captain Jefferson Somera, PA’s Public Affairs Office chief, said the team found two M14 rifles, five M16 rifles, assorted ammunition, 14 pairs of combat boots and 15 sets of PNP uniforms while conducting intensified combat and intel-driven operations at the said barangay last May 19, 2018.

According to Somera, the said area was believed to be a former base of the New People’s Army (NPA).

Somera said based on information from Police Senior Superintendent Gregory B. Bogñalbal, Quirino Police provincial director, the recovered firearms were not from the Maddela Police Station which was raided by the rebel groups last year.

He added that the recovered firearms will be subjected for in-depth investigation to identify where they came from.

Police Superintendent Alberto A. Calimag, force commander of the Provincial Mobile Force Company, said three of the recovered PNP uniforms belong to police officers of Maddela Police Station.

“The others have Quirino patches but the nameplates were already removed,” Calimag said.

Both Somera and Calimag appealed to all concerned citizens to continuously provide information that will lead to the arrest of any groups that are planning to sow terror in the communities. (ALM/TCB/PIA 2-Quirino)