209 guns, 155 bombs seized from NPA rebels

Government troopers have recovered a total of 209 guns and 155 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) from New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in the past two months of sustained anti-insurgency operations, the military reported yesterday.

The bulk of the seized firearms and IEDs came from the Davao and Caraga regions, where the NPA continues to maintain its strong presence, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) public affairs office said.

The firearms were either voluntarily surrendered by rebel returnees or recovered from NPA camps.

The military campaign also resulted in the surrender of more than 2,500 NPA regular fighters and their supporters.

Among the latest to surrender were Noel Legaspi, alias Ka Efren, the deputy secretary and spokesman of the NPA’s Far South Mindanao Region. Legaspi’s wife also of the FSMR, surrendered last Jan. 15.

Legaspi and around 187 former rebels were flown to Manila last Monday for a military-guided tour at Luneta Park and Fort Santiago and and a dinner with President Duterte at Malacañang on Tuesday.

“Surrenderees, mostly from the eastern part of Mindanao, brought along their firearms and submitted themselves to authorities,” the AFP said.

The military is calling on the remaining NPA rebels to return to the fold of law and be productive members of the community.

While expressing its readiness to welcome more surrenderees, the AFP said military operations would continue to degrade the armed capability of the rebels.