Soldiers operating in the rugged highlands of Quezon Province have recovered three firearms believed to belong to the New People’s Army, following a tip voluntarily provided by residents of a remote community in General Nakar — a development that military officials say reflects a growing shift in public sentiment against armed groups in Southern Tagalog.
The weapons were found on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Sitio Madaraki in Barangay Umiray, General Nakar, Quezon. The recovery was carried out by soldiers of the 80th Infantry (Steadfast) Battalion, acting under the 202nd Infantry (Unifier) Brigade and the broader 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, which is headquartered at Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.
What Soldiers Found at the Scene
Upon reaching the disclosed location, troops secured the following war materiel allegedly stored by the NPA in the remote sitio:
- One caliber .30 rifle
- One caliber .45 pistol
- One improvised shotgun
Military officials said focused operations were launched immediately after the tip was received, allowing troops to secure the hidden cache before it could be moved or accessed by armed elements. The swift response, they noted, was made possible largely because community members came forward on their own initiative.
General Nakar is a landlocked municipality nestled within the Sierra Madre mountain range in Quezon Province, sharing borders with Rizal, Bulacan, and Nueva Ecija. Its dense forested terrain, parts of which fall within or near the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park corridor, has long been associated with NPA activity across both Southern Tagalog and Central Luzon. Remote sitios like Madaraki have historically served as storage points, regrouping areas, and transit routes for NPA units seeking to evade military pressure.
Brigade Commander: Firearms Posed Real Threat to Nearby Communities
Brigadier General Ernest John C. Jadloc, Commander of the 202nd Infantry “Unifier” Brigade, credited the operation’s success to the willingness of community members to put their trust in the Philippine Army and act on it.
“These recovered weapons could have been used for violence, intimidation, or other unlawful activities. Their recovery is an important step in preventing the armed groups to threaten communities,” Brig. Gen. Jadloc said.
Beyond the physical seizure, Jadloc underscored a broader point: that no military operation in remote areas can succeed on the strength of soldiers alone. He stressed that the partnership between security forces and the communities they serve — built over years of sustained engagement — is what makes intelligence-driven operations of this kind effective.
The brigade commander also noted that armed groups deliberately target isolated upland communities to stockpile weapons, recruit, and reconstitute their ranks after military operations have disrupted their structures. This, he said, makes civilian vigilance not merely helpful but strategically essential in degrading the NPA’s operational capacity over the long term.
2ID Commander Sees Wider Pattern of Communities Rejecting the NPA
Major General Ramon P. Zagala, Commanding General of the 2nd Infantry (Jungle Fighter) Division, placed the General Nakar operation within what he described as an unmistakable regional trend: communities across Southern Tagalog are increasingly turning away from armed groups and aligning themselves with lawful authorities.
“This accomplishment shows that our communities are increasingly rejecting the presence of armed groups and are choosing to work with authorities in protecting peace and security,” Major General Zagala said.
Zagala called on more members of the public to remain alert and to report any information about concealed weapons, NPA safe houses, or suspicious armed individuals to the nearest military unit, police station, or through official Armed Forces of the Philippines hotlines. He gave assurances that all information provided by community sources is treated with strict confidentiality and that the safety of informants remains a paramount concern for the division.
The 2nd Infantry Division’s Area and Mandate
The 2nd Infantry Division carries operational responsibility for the entire Southern Tagalog region — an expansive area that covers the mainland provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, and Rizal, as well as the island provinces of Marinduque, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, and Romblon.
The NPA functions as the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and has been officially designated a terrorist organization by the Philippine government. The AFP has been conducting sustained internal security operations across multiple regions with the aim of dismantling NPA organizational structures, recovering hidden weapons, and facilitating the return of former rebels to civilian life through the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, or E-CLIP.
Army Pledges Continued Operations and Community Engagement
In an official statement released through the Division Public Affairs Office and attributed to Col. Michael T. Aquino, who serves as Acting Chief of the Division Public Affairs Office, the 2nd Infantry Division reaffirmed its commitment to sustained security operations and active community engagement across its area of responsibility.
The division stated that it will continue to conduct focused military operations wherever armed groups remain active, and that it will deepen its coordination with local government units, barangay officials, and civilian populations to prevent the NPA from re-establishing influence in geographically isolated and vulnerable communities.
The public was also urged to report any knowledge of hidden arms, NPA movements, or related illegal activities to authorities, with a reminder that all reports will be handled confidentially and that community safety remains at the core of the Army’s internal peace and security mandate.
The May 8 seizure in General Nakar is the most recent in a continuing series of arms recoveries carried out by units under the 2nd Infantry Division as part of the AFP’s ongoing operations in the Southern Tagalog region — operations that military officials say will be sustained until armed groups are fully dismantled and lasting peace is established across the area.
Photo courtesy of the Philippine Army / 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
