CANTILAN, Surigao del Sur — Philippine Army troops recovered an arms cache containing two rifles, five magazines and more than 120 rounds of ammunition in a remote area of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, in an operation aimed at weakening the remaining armed capability of insurgent remnants in the province.
Personnel of the 30th Infantry “Fight On” Battalion (30IB), 4th Infantry “Diamond” Division (4ID), Philippine Army, recovered the firearms and ammunition near Signalnan, Sitio Katarugan, Barangay Lobo, Cantilan, on September 3, 2026.
The recovered cache consisted of one M14 rifle, one M1 Garand rifle, five 20-round-capacity detachable box magazines, 32 rounds of .30-caliber ammunition, and 89 rounds of 7.62x51mm ammunition.
The discovery removed a significant quantity of firearms and ammunition from circulation and is expected to further limit the ability of armed remnants to maintain or resume armed activities in communities previously affected by conflict.
The Army said the recovery forms part of its continuing efforts to dismantle the remaining logistical and operational capabilities of armed groups and prevent recovered areas from becoming staging grounds for renewed violence.
The presence of firearms and ammunition hidden in remote areas remains a security concern because such weapons can potentially be retrieved and used for armed activities, according to the military’s assessment. The recovery therefore represents not only the seizure of weapons but also an effort to prevent them from being used to threaten civilians or undermine the peace and security gains achieved in the area.
Lt. Col. Rey Vergel A. Annogui, commanding officer of the 30IB, said the operation reflects the unit’s continuing commitment to protecting communities and consolidating peace in its area of responsibility.
“This successful recovery demonstrates our troops’ unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and sustaining the gains we have achieved in our areas of responsibility,” Annogui said.
He added that the Army would continue efforts to locate and recover weapons that could be used to threaten residents and disrupt the prevailing peace.
“We will continue to pursue every effort to prevent these weapons from being used to threaten our people and disrupt the peace,” he said.
Annogui also called on residents to remain vigilant and continue cooperating with security forces, emphasizing the role of communities in sustaining peace and preventing the resurgence of armed conflict.
“We likewise call on our communities to remain vigilant and continue working with us in building a safer, more peaceful, and progressive Surigao,” he said.
The recovery comes as government security forces continue efforts to prevent the re-emergence of armed activities in areas that have experienced prolonged conflict. Beyond military operations, authorities have emphasized the importance of community cooperation and local peace-building initiatives in maintaining stability.
For the Philippine Army, recovering weapons believed to have been concealed for possible future use is part of a broader effort to ensure that communities can sustain the gains made after years of conflict.
The latest operation in Cantilan underscores the continuing security challenge posed by firearms that remain hidden in remote areas, while also highlighting the importance of sustained intelligence gathering and cooperation between troops and local communities.
With the recovery of the M14 and M1 Garand rifles, five magazines, and 121 rounds of ammunition, the Army said it remains committed to preventing these weapons from returning to circulation and to supporting efforts toward a safer and more peaceful Surigao del Sur.