Army: Seizure of landmine factory big blow to rebels

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The commander of the Army’s 302nd Brigade here said that the seizure of a New People’s Army (PA) camp where homemade landmines and other improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were being manufactured at Brgy. Camindangan, Sipalay City is a big blow to the communist rebels.

Brig. Gen. Ignacio Madriaga said information from residents led to the discovery of the NPA camp at Sitio Cabilocan, Brgy Camindangan, Sipalay, Negros Occidental last August 18, 2019

The camp was discovered after members of the 15^th Infantry Battalion and PNP Mobile Forces from Region 7 and Region 6 figured in a firefight with NPA members.

Madriaga told Daily Guardian that the camp was well concealed in the steep limestone mountainside and thick vegetation.

“These landmines and IEDs pose a great danger to the lives and limbs of our civilian populace because these explosives can detonate once tripped or triggered by unwary children or by anyone once laid by the terrorist NPA,” he said.

The recoveries included five newly-completed IEDs), more than a kilo of IED materials and components, 209 pieces of blasting caps, 175.5 inches of detonation cords, six assorted guns, 4,376 cuts of iron bars, 11 pieces of batteries, 25 switches, and 75 rounds of assorted ammunition

Although the rebel occupants managed to escape, the pursuit operations led to the arrest of two suspected NPA rebels identified as Jory Mate and Roberto Tingson.

They yielded a Mossberg shotgun and a homemade .38 caliber revolver with ammunition, according to Maj. Jake Barila, officer-in-charge of the Sipalay City Police Station.

Mate and Tingson, who are now in jail, are facing charges for illegal possession of firearms.