Northern Mindanao, Caraga soldiers get new rifles

MANILA, Philippines - Troops running after the communist rebels in the Caraga and Northern Mindanao regions were issued brand new assault rifles on Wednesday.

Capt. Joe Patrick Martinez, spokesman for the 4th Infantry Division (ID) said 2,819 Remington R4 assault rifles were turned over to personnel of the 4th Division Reconnaissance and 8th, 26th, 29th, 30th, 36th and 58th Infantry Battalions.

“For the longest time, the AFP is using the 5.56 mm M16 rifles from the US military, which are leftovers from the Vietnam War,” Martinez said.

Martinez said 200 Harris radios were also issued to the soldiers.

Northern Mindanao is composed of the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte and the cities of Cagayan de Oro, El Salvador, Gingoog, Iligan, Malaybalay, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Tangub and Valencia.

Caraga covers Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Island, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur and the cities of Bayugan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabadbaran and Tandag.

The military said there are around 2,000 New People’s Army rebels in the two regions.