High-powered arms, grenades unearthed in Roxas, Isabela after blast kills 4

ROXAS, Isabela — A cache of war materiel believed to be linked to the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) was recovered by police in Barangay Sinamar, Roxas, Isabela, just four days after an explosion in the same barangay killed four civilians, including three children.

The recovery on October 8 came as authorities continued investigating the October 4 blast that killed an 85-year-old woman and three minors and injured four other children.

According to the Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2), personnel of the 1st Isabela Provincial Mobile Force Company (1st IPMFC) recovered the war materiel after receiving information from alias “Bira,” a former CTG member, on October 7 about buried firearms and other equipment in the area.

Among the items recovered were three M76 high-explosive rifle grenades, two 40mm high-explosive cartridges, an improvised anti-personnel mine, a blasting cap, a commercial time fuse and two meters of detonating cord.

Police also recovered five 12-gauge shotgun cartridges, 65 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, an improvised shotgun, a 7.62mm magazine, two handheld radios, a bandolier, clothing reportedly associated with the CTG, a camouflage upper garment, a raincoat, and other equipment and documents.

Deadly blast days earlier

The recovery came days after an explosion rocked Purok Raniag, Barangay Sinamar, at around 9 a.m. on October 4.

The blast killed three children and an 85-year-old woman and injured four other minors.

An initial report by GMA News said the children had reportedly found an unidentified object in a drainage canal. One of the children allegedly struck the object with a rock, triggering the explosion.

The elderly woman was reportedly passing through the area when the blast occurred.

Authorities initially suspected that the object was an explosive device, possibly a rifle grenade. However, its exact type and origin have yet to be conclusively established.

The police Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Canine Unit continues to conduct a post-blast investigation to determine the nature and origin of the explosive device.

No confirmed link yet

Despite the recovery of explosives and other war materiel in the same barangay, authorities have not established whether any of the recovered items were connected to the device that caused the deadly October 4 explosion.

The recovered materiel was brought to the 1st IPMFC headquarters for proper documentation and further examination.

The incident has prompted authorities to again warn the public against handling suspicious objects that may be explosives or ammunition.

Police urged anyone who encounters a suspicious object to keep a safe distance, warn others to stay away and immediately report it to the nearest police station or local authorities.

Authorities stressed that the public should never touch, move or attempt to inspect suspected explosives or ammunition, as doing so could result in further injuries or loss of life.