Soldiers dig up explosives in NPA camp in Cagayan

ILAGAN, Isabela – Government troops have found a cache of explosives believed belonging to New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in a remote town in nearby Cagayan, a belated Army report said.

Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Alvarado, commanding general of the Army’s 5th Infantry Division based here, said elements of the 41st Infantry Battalion found 58 mortar shells in a known NPA lair.

The Army report said the explosives — 33 81-mm and 25 60-mm mortar ammo, were dug up in two separate sites in a suspected NPA camp in remote Sitio Dakkel in Barangay Calauagan, Gattaran town.

Soldiers were tipped off about the explosives by a former rebel-turned-government asset.

The explosives, according to the military asset, were to be used by the rebels in terrorist activities in the region in time for the founding anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Dec. 28.

Meanwhile, 1,802 members of the Army’s 5th ID were promoted last week. Of the number, 325 were promoted to corporal; 442 to sergeant; 485 to staff sergeant; 409 to technical sergeant; and 141 to master sergeant.

Alvarado said the mass promotion was in "recognition of the soldiers’ role in the preservation of peace and order in the countryside as well as part of the government’s efforts to boost the morale of its combatants in their continued adherence to democratic processes." — Charlie Lagasca