FORT MAGSAYSAY, Nueva Ecija – The 70th Infantry (Matapat at Matatag) Battalion of the 703rd Infantry (Agila) Brigade unearthed firearms and ammunition of the New People’s Army (NPA) at Sitio Sarumbibit, Barangay San Mateo, Norzagaray, Bulacan on September 17, 2022.
Following a tip-off from a concerned citizen, the operating troops of the 70th Infantry (Matapat at Matatag) Battalion conducted the immediate operation that resulted in the recovery of war materials.
Among the recovered war materials are one (1) M16A1 rifle; one (1) COLT M653 rifle; one (1) Elisco M653 rifle; one hundred fifteen (115) pieces of 5.56 ammunition; and various types of magazines.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Ronnel B Dela Cruz, Commanding Officer of 70IB, “Ang pagkakatuklas ng mga armas na ito ay katunayan na ayaw na ng taong bayan sa armadong pakikibaka na ginagawa ng teroristang grupo ng New People’s Army, gusto na ng taong bayan na mamuhay na tahimik at ligtas sa panganib”.
On the other hand, Brigadier General Joseph Norwin D Pasamonte, Brigade Commander of 703rd Bde mentioned that “the continuous surrender and discovery of war materials in Central Luzon is an obvious sign that the local communist armed conflict in Central Luzon is dying, “Wala na silang suporta ng taong bayan”.
Likewise, Major General Andrew D Costelo, Commander of the 7th Infantry (Kaugnay) Division, acknowledged the importance of cooperation of the community and the effort of the different security forces, local government units, and government agencies in ending the local communist armed conflict “Ituloy lang natin ang ating pagtutulungan at malapit na nating matuldukan ang gulo dito sa Central Luzon”.
