Former rebel gives tip, leading to discovery of arms cache with explosives, grenades in Tinoc, Ifugao

TINOC, Ifugao — A cache of explosives, grenades, ammunition and other war materials believed to have been concealed by members of the dismantled Kilusang Larangang Gerilya (KLG) Ifugao was recovered by joint police and military forces in a mountainous area of Tinoc, Ifugao on September 28.

The recovery followed information provided by a former rebel member who surrendered to authorities in December 2025, according to the Ifugao Provincial Police Office (PPO).

Acting on the former member’s information, government forces conducted an operation under OPLAN “IPHODAN 06/26,” leading to the discovery of the abandoned arms cache.

Among the recovered items were a Claymore mine, hand grenade, rifle grenades, a 40mm cartridge, detonating cords, commercial dynamites, assorted ammunition, bandoliers and other personal belongings believed to be connected to the dismantled group.

The explosives were turned over to the Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit (PECU) Ifugao for proper disposition, while the other recovered items were placed under the custody of the Tinoc Municipal Police Station.

The operation involved personnel from the 1501st Maneuver Company of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 (RMFB15), Tinoc MPS, the 1st and 2nd Ifugao Provincial Mobile Force Companies, Provincial Intelligence Team Ifugao, Regional Intelligence Unit 14, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency-Cordillera, PECU Ifugao, 501st and 54th Infantry Battalions of the Philippine Army, and the 1st Special Action Battalion of the PNP Special Action Force.

Authorities said the recovery forms part of continuing efforts to locate firearms, explosives and other war materials allegedly concealed by members of communist armed groups following the dismantling of their organizations.

The military reported that the KLG Ifugao was dismantled in 2019, weakening the presence of the Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee in the area.

Authorities have continued to encourage former members and supporters of the group to surrender and return to their communities.

In November 2025, a former KLG Ifugao member also surrendered and turned over a caliber .30 firearm and ammunition. According to the Philippine Information Agency, the former member had served as a team leader of the KLG Ifugao under the Nona Del Rosario Command.

In Tinoc, 89 individuals voluntarily withdrew their support from the Communist Terrorist Group and pledged allegiance to the government on March 27, 2026, according to a PIA report dated April 1.

Ifugao PPO Provincial Director PCOL Jeremias G. Oyawon said the latest recovery demonstrated the importance of cooperation between communities and government security forces in locating concealed war materials.

“This accomplishment proves that through the cooperation of the community, PNP, and AFP, there is no place for terrorism in Ifugao,” Oyawon said, as quoted by the Ifugao PPO.

The Ifugao PPO also renewed its call for remaining members of the communist group to surrender and avail themselves of the government's Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP), which provides reintegration assistance to former members of communist armed groups.