Explosives seized in Isabela NPA camp

The Philippine Army announced yesterday the seizure of a cache of explosives over the weekend at a New People’s Army (NPA) camp in Isabela province.

Lt. Gen. Generoso Senga, Army chief, said the seizure of the explosives and demolition paraphernalia virtually reduced the guerrillas’s bomb stockpile in Cagayan-Isabela provinces.

Elements of the 52nd Reconnaisance Company were reportedly conducting security operations in the hinterlands of Ilagan town when they stumbled upon a rebel camp located at the boundary of San Mariano town and Ilagan.

The troops seized the camp and recovered a Honda generator and 12 improvised anti-personnel mines.

Further search led to the discovery of 346 hand grenade main charges, 11 hand grenades, a hand grenade hammer, 244 non-electric blasting caps and two containers of TNT, claymore mine, five packs of hand grenade safety pins, a sack of hand grenade safety levers, 70 electrical blasting caps, a can of black powder and a roll of detonating cords.

Army troops also recovered a drill press machine, epoxy primers, paints and assorted mechanical tools from the rebel’s abandoned camp.

Army spokesman Maj. Bartolome Bacarro said the NPA camp is run and maintained by the Fortunato Camus Command of the Cagayan Valley Regional Committee.