ZAMBALES, Philippines — The Philippine National Police, under the command of PNP Chief Police General Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., unearthed a buried cache of firearms, ammunition, explosive materials, and subversive documents in Sitio Buri, Barangay Inhobol, Masinloc, Zambales on June 25, 2026, in a focused Internal Security Operation conducted by the Zambales 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company (PMFC), in coordination with the Zambales Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit (ZPECU) and the Masinloc Municipal Police Station (MPS).
The discovery stemmed from information provided by a former member of a Communist Terrorist Group (CTG), prompting a three-day internal security operation from June 23 to 25, 2026 that led police personnel to a buried repository of war materiel.
Recovered from the site were two improvised shotguns; 123 rounds of assorted ammunition composed of 10 rounds of 40mm, 33 rounds of 5.56mm, 26 rounds of 7.62mm, 23 rounds of 7.62×39, six rounds of .30 caliber, 25 rounds of 9mm, and six rounds of 12-gauge shotgun ammunition; 20 empty magazines, including 17 for caliber 5.56 rifles and three for caliber 7.62 rifles; one bandolier; four high-explosive rifle grenades; one canister; one non-electric blasting cap with fuse-time and commercial fuse measuring .28 meter; two commercial detonating cords measuring 1.98 meters and 5.46 meters; assorted tactical medical items; and one folder containing subversive propaganda materials.
All recovered firearms, ammunition, and other non-explosive items are now under proper documentation and custody of the Zambales 1st PMFC, while the explosive materials will be turned over to the Zambales Provincial Explosive and Canine Unit for proper handling and disposal.
“Mahalagang tagumpay ito sa ating patuloy na kampanya laban sa mga armadong banta sa kapayapaan at seguridad. Ang pagkakarekober ng mga nakatagong armas at war materiel ay isang malinaw na hakbang upang mapigilan ang anumang pagtatangkang gamitin ang mga ito laban sa mamamayan,” said PGEN Nartatez.
The successful recovery reflects the PNP’s continuing commitment to sustaining internal security operations and denying armed threat groups access to resources that may be used to sow violence and fear in communities. It also advances the PNP Focused Agenda, a strategic direction for transformation designed to make police service more responsive and more attuned to public safety needs, particularly through the priority on Enhanced Managing Police Operations, which strengthens intelligence-driven efforts against armed threats and other security risks.
“We will continue to act on every piece of information and pursue locations believed to be used to hide firearms, explosives, and other materials of armed groups. Our operations will not stop until these threats are located, recovered, and removed from our communities,” the PNP Chief added.
As the PNP continues to intensify internal security operations to locate and recover hidden war materiel and prevent its possible use by armed groups, under the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., it assures the public of “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong mabilis, tapat, at nararamdaman.” (PNP-PIO)
