Military personnel seize NPA's explosive stash in Zamboanga del Sur

Headline: Former NPA Supporter Leads Troops to Hidden Explosives Cache in Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur

Hey there! Let's dive into the recent events unfolding in Zamboanga del Sur. On a thoroughly eventful Tuesday, May 6, 2025, the 53rd Infantry Battalion (53IB) made a significant recovery—a cache of explosives, long buried and hidden, believed to belong to the New People's Army (NPA).

Here's the scoop:

This sensational discovery came about thanks to a former mass base supporter of the defunct Mobile Regional Guerrilla Unit (MRGU). In a fascinating twist of events, this individual generously volunteered crucial information about the covert war materials hidden away in Sigacad village, Bayog. The MRGU, for the record, operates under the NPA's Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC).

Wait, there's more:

The recovery mission took place on May 4, 2025. Upon digging, troops uncovered a trove of dangerous loot: 10 rifle grenades and 11 ammunition for caliber 40-millimeter grenade launchers. Talk about a ticking time bomb just waiting to go off!

Back to our source:

The former mass base supporter of the MRGU took an Oath of Allegiance before Bayog Mayor Celso Matias, who chairs the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC). According to 53IB, during the custodial debriefing, the former supporter revealed the existence of this explosives cache, which was left behind by remnants of the defunct MRGU-WMRPC when they sought refuge in the area during past military operations.

The mass supporter himself buried the explosives during the group's active presence in the area. Pushed by the intensified security operations and ongoing information campaigns of the 53IB regarding the dangers of loose firearms and explosives, the individual was driven to come forward and help prevent potential threats to community safety.

The big win:

Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Vargas, Jr., commander of the 53IB, shared his thoughts on the event: "The peaceful surrender of the former mass supporter and the successful recovery of deadly explosives are clear outcomes of effective collaboration among the Bayog MTF-ELCAC, 53IB, and the police of Bayog. His brave decision to turn over these weapons removes threats to public safety and serves as a strong message of hope and reconciliation for others still holding onto the past."

Vargas continued: "We continue to call on remaining supporters and former members of the insurgency to follow this example, embrace peace, and help build a more secure and developed Zamboanga del Sur."

Want more? Vargas emphasized that the accomplishment reflects the sustained commitment of the 53IB and its partners in building resilient, peaceful, and progressive communities through trust-based engagements and proactive peace-building strategies.

Stay tuned for more updates! The recovered explosives were placed under the custody of the 53IB for safekeeping. Keep an eye out for more news on Zamboanga del Sur as we work tirelessly to bring you the latest developments. (Visit our website Zamboanga)

The sensational discovery of a hidden explosives cache in Zamboanga del Sur was made by a former supporter of the New People's Army's Mobile Regional Guerrilla Unit, who volunteered crucial information about the covert war materials.
The recovery mission, which took place on May 4, 2025, unearthed a trove of dangerous loot including 10 rifle grenades and 11 ammunition for caliber 40-millimeter grenade launchers.
The former supporter of the MRGU took an Oath of Allegiance before Bayog Mayor Celso Matias and revealed the existence of the explosives cache during a custodial debriefing.
The individual was driven to come forward and help prevent potential threats to community safety due to intensified security operations and ongoing information campaigns of the 53IB.
Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Vargas, commander of the 53IB, praised the recovery as a clear outcome of effective collaboration among various forces and called on remaining supporters and former members of the insurgency to follow this example, embrace peace, and help build a more secure and developed Zamboanga del Sur.