FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – Following a tip from a concerned citizen, 2 arm caches were successfully excavated and discovered war materials on July 01, 2022 at Barangay Santa Juliana, Capas, Tarlac. The arms caches allegedly belonged to the Weakened KLG-TARZAM.
The joint elements of 31st Mechanized Infantry Company, 3rd Mechanized Infantry (Makatarungan) Battalion; 790th Air Base Group and 710th Special Operations Wing, Philippine Air Force; National Intelligence Coordinating Agency 3 (NICA3); and Capas Municipal Police Office led to the discovery of two (2) communist terrorist arm caches in Tarlac.
Among the recovered war materials are one (1) M16A1 rifle; one (1) M14 rifle; one (1) M2 carbine; one (1) KG9 Machine Gun (SMG); one (1) Beretta 9MM; three (3) Cal..38; one (1) Magnum Cal..22; one (1) Cal.22; different ammunitions as follow: 92 rounds 7.62MM, 46 rounds 7.62MM linked, 373 rounds 5.56MM, 15 rounds 9MM, 4 rounds cal.22 Magnum, and 7 rounds. Cal.38; 16 assorted magazines; one (1) commercial radio; medical and personal belongings of the CTG members.
For the last 2 months, the 3rd Mech Bn discovered 3 arms caches in their area of operation, among the recovered war materials, are (five) 5 high powered firearms (HPFAs) in Sitio Tala, Barangay Burgos, San Jose, Tarlac last May 30, 2022. Another is one (1) Garand Rifle and other CTG equipment in Barangay Palis, Botolan Zambales last June 26, 2022.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Jeszer M Bautista, Acting Commanding Officer of 3rd Mech Bn, “Sunod-sunod ang ating pagkakatuklas sa mga nakatagong armas at kagamitan ng KLG-TARZAM, nagpapatunay lamang ito na ang mga dati nilang kasamahan at ang mamamayan ay sawa na sa panlilinlang at panggagamit ng mga terorista, sila na mismo ang nagtuturo kung saan ito nakatago”.
Meanwhile, MGen Andrew Costelo PA, Commander of 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division foresight the end of local armed conflict in the area of responsibility. “Hindi magtatagal ay atin nang matutunton ang kinaroroonan ng mga armadong terorista para sa wakas ay matapos na ang local communist armed conflict sa Northern at Central Luzon.”
