PUDTOL, Apayao – The Apayao Police Provincial Office (PPO) recovered a cache of explosives allegedly hidden by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels in Malibang, Pudtol during a police operation conducted last December 13, 2023.
Said recovery operation was made after a former NPA member known as “Sakbay” voluntarily surrendered to personnel of the 1st Apayao Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC). He was identified as a member of the West Front Committee, Komiteng Probinsiya Cagayan, Komiteng Rehiyon-Cagayan Valley, operating under the command of Edgar Baustista.
During the tactical interrogation, the surrenderee disclosed the presence of an explosive cache located at Sitio Agura, Malibang in Pudtol town.
Acting on this information, joint operatives from Provincial Intelligence Unit-Apayao, Regional Intelligence Division-Cordillera, Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 15, Regional Intelligence Unit 14, Pudtol Municipal Police Station (MPS) and Provincial EOD and Canine Unit (PECU) Apayao proceeded to the specified location.
At the site, the team successfully obtained the following items: Fuse Time, Commercial – 226 ft estimated; 2 pieces – Grenade, rifle, M76, HE (High Explosive); One (1) piece – Grenade, rifle, M76, HE (High Explosive) without pin; 1 60 mm Cartridge, HE (High Explosive); 3 pieces – Handheld Radio (Baofeng) 2 pieces – Radio charger
The recovered items were inventoried at the retrieval site and subsequently transported to the custody of Pudtol MPS for documentation. Furthermore, the explosives materials were transferred to the custody of Apayao PECU for proper disposition. Simultaneously, the handheld radios (Baofeng) and chargers were handed over to the custody of 1st Apayao PMFC. By JCM
