CANTILAN, SURIGAO DEL SUR — A buried weapons cache containing high-powered rifles, magazines and more than a hundred rounds of ammunition has been recovered by Philippine Army troops in the hinterlands of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, in another operation aimed at preventing communist insurgent remnants from regaining access to firearms.
Troops from the 30th Infantry Battalion (30IB), under the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (4ID), discovered the cache on Thursday, September 3, in Signalnan, Sitio Katarugan, Barangay Lobo, according to reports from the Philippine News Agency and Inquirer.net.
What was found underground?
Authorities said the recovered cache contained:
- 1 M14 rifle
- 1 M1 Garand rifle
- 5 detachable 20-round magazines
- 32 rounds of .30-caliber ammunition
- 89 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition
That amounts to 121 rounds of ammunition, in addition to the two rifles and five magazines.
The Philippine News Agency reported that the firearms were believed to have been concealed by remnants of the New People’s Army (NPA). The Army said the recovery is expected to further limit the ability of insurgent remnants to conduct armed activities in the area.
Army says recovery helps prevent resurgence
Lt. Col. Rey Vergel Annogui, commanding officer of the 30th Infantry Battalion, described the operation as part of continuing efforts to protect communities and preserve the security gains achieved in areas previously affected by armed conflict.
He said keeping hidden firearms out of the hands of armed groups is important in preventing renewed violence and disruption in Cantilan and other parts of Surigao del Sur.
4ID commander Maj. Gen. Marion Angcao also commended the 30IB and emphasized the importance of continued vigilance and coordination among soldiers, local governments, communities and other stakeholders.
Part of a broader pattern in Caraga
The latest recovery comes amid a series of operations involving weapons caches and former communist insurgents in the Caraga region.
Just days earlier, Mindanao Times reported that three individuals linked to the communist insurgency surrendered in separate operations in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur. One of those surrenders led troops to a separate buried cache in Cantilan containing an M14 rifle, six rifle grenades and two improvised explosive devices.
Brigada News likewise reported that the August operations involved former supporters and members who surrendered and provided information that helped authorities locate hidden weapons.
The developments point to the continuing importance of intelligence provided by former insurgents and local communities in locating weapons that may otherwise remain hidden and potentially be recovered by armed groups.
Why the latest recovery matters
For the military, the significance of the operation goes beyond the number of firearms seized.
Recovering weapons before they can be used removes potential firepower from insurgent remnants and supports the government’s broader effort to prevent the resurgence of armed conflict in communities that have previously experienced rebel activity.
The Philippine Army has also reported other arms-cache recoveries in Surigao del Sur this year, including a January operation in Lianga in which troops recovered three AK-47 rifles reportedly following information provided by a former rebel who had surrendered.
The latest Cantilan operation therefore forms part of a continuing security campaign in Caraga focused not only on armed operations but also on surrender, community cooperation and the recovery of weapons left behind by insurgent groups.
For residents, the immediate objective is straightforward: keep concealed firearms from finding their way back into the hands of armed groups and protect communities from a return to violence.
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