CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental: The military on Thursday belied insinuation that the surrendered firearms of the New People’s Army (NPA) were recycled to gain media mileage.
Maj. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner, Jr., Commander of the 4ID, made the statement during the presentation of 14 surrendered assorted high powered firearms at the headquarters of army’s 58th Infantry Battalion here.
Brawner said that the firearms, still serviceable, were processed to determine if the NPA rebels who turned over the firearms were authentic.
He said that the validation of the firearms were done by the inter-intelligence task force from the military.
Brawner said that the firearms were scheduled for demilitarization or destroyed.
Lt. Col. Ricky Canatoy, Commanding Officer, of the 58IB, said that the firearms were turned over by nine NPA rebels, including a ranking rebel officer, who surrendered in July 26, 2021.
Canatoy said that eight of the high powered firearms were recovered when the surrendered rebels disclosed the hidden armed cache. -0-
