PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar on Monday lauded a police-military operation in Butuan City which resulted in the arrest of three men led by a local barangay official found transporting thousands of AK-47 bullets and food for the New People’s Army.

“Maraming buhay ng sibilyan at security forces ang nasagip at maraming karahasan ang napigil sa pagkakaharang ng libu-libong bala sa Butuan City na dapat sana ay mapapasakamay ng CPP-NPA-NDF sa Mindanao,” said the top cop.

“I commend both the policemen and soldiers for this great job and I expect all our forces in other areas to intensify further the campaign against the communist rebels especially with the forthcoming elections wherein the CPP-NPA-NDF remains the biggest threat in terms of election-related violence and extortion,” he added.

Last Friday’s operation was conducted by the Police Regional Office 13’s Regional Intelligence Division 13, Butuan City Police Station 4, Butuan City Mobile Force Company, Butuan City Intelligence Unit, Butuan City Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Canine Unit and the Army’s 65th and 75th Infantry Battalions.

PRO13 director, Brigadier Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr. said security troops arrested the suspected NPA ‘logistics officers’ in a checkpoint in Purok 1B, Barangay Pianing in Butuan City following a report about the presence of a group of men out to transport rebel weapons and food supply in the area.

Gen. Eleazar has ordered his men to be on full alert to thwart NPA plans in the countryside amid a number of atrocities committed by the rebels this year alone.

Last June, a construction company employee died while two others were injured when a band of heavily-armed NPA rebels raided a construction site in Surigao del Sur.

In Masbate, FEU and national football team player Kieth Absalom and his relative died in an NPA ambush in Masbate City last June 6. Three more civilians died in another NPA attack while a barangay official and his companions survived an ambush by the communist terrorists both in Masbate recently.

The attacks are seen as in retaliation to the successful anti-insurgency programs of the government which resulted in hundreds of NPA fighters and their supporters surrendering to the security forces, said the PNP chief.

“The government’s campaign to put an end to the more than 50 years of communist insurgency is on the right track and we in the PNP will continue supporting all the programs to achieve this goal, both through aggressive operations and non-military solutions,” Gen. Eleazar explained.

As of press time, the PRO13 is still investigating the source of the 4,800 rounds of caliber .7.62 ammunition and three rifle grenades recovered from the three suspects.

“We are questioning the three suspects led by an elected barangay official in Agusan del Sur. What we want to find out here is where did they procure the 4,800 rounds of live caliber 7.62 bullets which could be used by the NPA in attacking more targets in the region and other parts of Mindanao, “ said Brig. Gen. Caramat.

Government investigators have previously said that over 1,000 Russian-made AK-47 assault rifles worth over P52 million were ‘procured’ by the NPA in Region 13 from 2011 to 2013 or during the previous Aquino administration with the help of an owner of a local security company.

An investigation showed that the security agency owner identified as Isidro Lozada was reportedly ‘snatched’ by the rebels in Butuan City and was asked to help purchase AK-47 rifles in Manila. The businessman reportedly was forced to cooperate with the NPA after he and his family were threatened with harm by the guerrillas.

Last Friday’s operation in Butuan City resulted in the arrest of Ferdinand Dagium, a 27-year old ‘kagawad’ of Bgy. Magsaysay in Sibagat; his brother Rolando,a 34-year old driver; and Marvin Merencillo,26, of Purok 1, Bgy. Mount Ararat in Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

Brig. Gen. Caramat said that when intercepted in Purok 1, Bgy. Pianing in Butuan City around 8:10 p.m. last Friday, the suspects were found in possession of 4,800 pieces of caliber 7.62 ammunition for AK-47 automatic rifles, two rifle grenades and assorted food supplies.

Three motorcycles being driven by the accused were impounded by the local police following the intelligence-driven operations, he added.

The official said that members of the PRO13 Regional Intelligence 13 led by Lieutenant Colonel Rommel Villamor, with the assistance of officers from the Butuan City Police Station led by Majors Rodel Dorado and Randie Azote and the Army intercepted the three in a checkpoint in Bgy. Pianing. rs and supporters.

The recovered weapons and ammunition as well as the suspects were brought to the Butuan City Police Station 4. Caramat said that the suspects will be facing non-bailable charges for illegal possession of explosives under Republic Act 9516 and RA 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013.