NARVACAN, Ilocos Sur, Philippines - Soldiers of the Army's 503rd Brigade based in Lagangilang, Abra, recovered two high-powered firearms and several clips of ammunition from an abandoned house at Barangay Apao, Tineg, last Tuesday during pursuit operations against New People's Army (NPA) rebels who had ambushed soldiers last October 30 at Barangay, Licuan-Baay town, the military said Wednesday. Colonel Noel T. Baluyan, commander of the army's 41st Infantry Battalion, said in his report to Colonel Danny Pabunan, commander of army's 503rd Brigade, said that a platoon of soldiers discovered the firearms after scouring the area for retreating NPA rebels.

Baluyan said the troops recovered one M1 Garand rifle and one Carbine rifle with 22 and 15 rounds of ammunition, respectively. He said the communist rebels may have left the firearms and dressed as ordinary civilians to avoid the pursuing government troops. "It has been a common tactic of the NPA rebels to mix up with the local populace once they are encircled or besieged," Baluyan said. Pabunan said that he will not let-up in the pursuit operations to render the communist terrorists ineffective as they caused the province of Abra to lag behind other provinces in development. "It does not matter whether we will exhaust everything we have for as long as our people will not be harassed or feel intimidated by the communist terrorists who have long haunted this province of their violent activities," he said.