Cabadbaran city: The capacity of the communist New People's Army (NPA) in the Caraga Region was significantly degraded after the recovery of 11 high-power firearms following a series of rebel surrenders this month. The Army's 901st Infantry Brigade (901Bde) reported Monday that the seizures were the result of three NPA members yielding to government forces between October 16 and 22.

According to Philippines News Agency, on October 16, an NPA couple-Caryl Engayas Flores (alias Kayle) and Glendolyn Himo (alias Vic)-from the Sub-Regional Committee (SRC) Southland surrendered to the troops of the 29th Infantry Battalion (29IB) in Cabadbaran City, Agusan del Norte. The couple provided crucial information that led to the discovery of a concealed arms cache in the hinterlands of Barangay Alegria, San Francisco, Agusan del Sur, the 901Bde said in a statement.

An operation launched on October 17 by the 29IB and the Police Regional Office in the Caraga Region (PRO-13) resulted in the recovery of 10 high-power firearms: three M203 Grenade Launchers, four M16 Rifles, two AR-15 Colt Assault Rifles, and a Firebird M4 Rifle. A total of six long rifle magazines and 778 cartridges of 5.56mm were also recovered, the 901Bde said.

It added that the brigade scored another victory on October 22 when the surrender of Marvin Angcajas Pispi±an (alias Manong) to the 48th Infantry Battalion led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, an anti-personnel mine, 10 kilograms of ammonium nitrate, and an improvised explosive device (IED) in the hinterlands of Bayugan City, Agusan del Sur.

Col. Manuel Darius Resuello, 901Bde acting commander, was quoted as saying, "The surrenders and the recovery of the firearms, ammunition and explosives degraded the capability of [the] NEMRC to sustain its operations."