Army seizes abandoned war materiel in Maguindanao Sur

CAMP SIONGCO: Maguindanao del Norte - Government troops recovered in Maguindanao del Sur town of Sultan sa Barongis a dozen assorted high-powered firearms abandoned by an armed group on Sunday afternoon. Lt. Col. Robert Betita, Army's 1st Mechanized Infantry Battalion (1MIB) head, said his unit was responding to civilian reports about the presence of heavily armed men in Barangay Angkayamat when the group scampered away. 'The gunmen hurriedly left upon seeing our forces, leaving behind their war materiel. We are continuously searching for them in remote communities of Sultan sa Barongis,' Betita said in a statement Monday. Among the recovered firearms were a .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle, an Ultimax rifle, several M79 grenade launchers, and ammunition. Betita could not immediately identify which group the gunmen are affiliated with, but said the firearms were "signature" war weapons of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Dawlah Islamiya terrorist groups. Maj. Gen. Antonio Navarrete, Army's 6th Infantry Division chief, assured the residents of Sultan sa Barongis that "any information from you about the lawless elements will be treated with utmost confidentiality.' Source: Philippines News Agency