Government troops recovered 13 high-powered firearms during a joint operation in the mountainous area of Barangay Guibahoy, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, on Thursday.
The operation was conducted by combined forces of the Philippine Army’s 83rd Infantry Battalion and 2nd Infantry Battalion.
Soldiers discovered 12 M16 rifles, one M60 machine gun, and two anti-personnel mines.
The firearms and explosives were found buried in a thick forest after residents reported seeing suspicious individuals visiting the site. Assorted ammunition and magazines were also recovered from the cache.
Military officials noted that the site is near Sitio Benguet, where troops uncovered a separate weapons cache on December 20 last year. The proximity suggests a recurring use of the area for hiding armaments.
The Army’s 9th Infantry Division believes more firearms may be discovered soon. Authorities cited a steady flow of information from residents and ongoing clearing operations as keys to the mission’s success.
