BUTUAN CITY — An arms cache believed to be owned by members of the New People’s Army in the hinterlands of Jabonga town, Agusan del Norte was discovered by state troops following information provided by an insurgent who recently surrendered to the government.
Philippin Army’s 901st Infantry Brigade commander Brig. Gen. George Banzon said that the rebel — identified as Maximo Fuentes Sr., one of three NPA fighters who surrendered on 1 January 2023 — pinpointed the site of the buried NPA arms cache in Barangay Cuyago, Jabonga.
Recovered from the site were five M16 rifles, an M4 rifle, a 40mm grenade launcher, and a generator set.
Vibas yielded to the Army’s 29th Infantry Battalion along with his live-in partner Jennifer Tison Gagbo, and another rebel identified as Nelboy Nanoy Yubos.
The surrenderers are members of the weakened NPA Sentro De Grabidad Guerrilla Front 16, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.