Army seizes hi-powered firearms in San Joaquin
At least seven high-powered firearms believed to be owned by elements of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA/ABB) were seized by Army troopers in an early morning operation yesterday.
Led by Army Col. Nestor Porlucas of the 79th Infantry Battalion, The News Today (TNT) gathered initial reported recoveries that included five M16 armalite rifles, one M14 and one shotgun. All weapons were found in Barangay Nadsadan, San Joaquin, Iloilo, a known RPA/ABB stronghold.
Called the “rejectionist” faction of the once solid Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the RPA/ABB force are involved in an ongoing peace talk with the government.
Captain Lowen Gil Marquez, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Civil Relations Group of the Philippine Army here said investigation is underway to validate information about the weapons’ ownership. Any corresponding findings will then be submitted to the peace talk panel in the event government agents confirm violation on the part of the RPA/ABB.
With Monday’s elections set, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has imposed a gun ban with exemptions granted only to uniformed police personnel and Army troopers. Exemptions are also granted on certain conditions albeit with strict provisions.
Earlier, government troops also arrested and disarmed seven RPA-ABB members suspected of supporting candidates in Laua-an town in Antique.
The soldiers recovered two M-16 rifles, three .38 caliber pistols, one homemade shotgun and a locally-made Ingram sub-machine gun.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Captain Marquez added, remains vigilant and vows to sustain efforts “to ensure a peaceful, honest and orderly elections.”
Meantime, with the remaining campaign period down to two days, the Army monitored intensified propaganda activities conducted by elements of communist-terrorists New People’s Army (NPA).
Captain Marquez disclosed latest Army intelligence reports that the NPAs alongside militant representatives of communist-front organizations have intensified partylist campaign in the boundary of Iloilo and Antique.
Sightings of the communist group were reported to the Army by the locals yesterday morning in villages within San Remegio, Antique.
To recall, the Army in a series of public awareness drive revealed communist-backed party list groups such as Bayan Muna, Anak Pawis and Gabriela among others.
The extortion and harassment issues linked to the communist rebels and communist front organizations were said to have included in the so-called “package deal” demanded to candidates the votes for communist-backed partylist groups.