By HENRY EMPEÑO | June 11, 2025

BOTOLAN, Zambales — Intelligence operatives of the Zambales Provincial Police Office (ZPPO) seized on Tuesday, June 10, several rounds of ammunition and explosives believed to be stashed by rebels at a remote upland barangay here.

A statement from the ZPPO said the cache was found by the Zambales Provincial Intelligence Unit headed by PLtCol Crisanto Lleva on Mt. Piera at Sitio Dingin, Barangay Old Poonbato in this town.

Among those recovered were one improvised explosive device (IED), four rifle grenades, three hand grenades, various kinds of ammunition, and subversive documents.

The upland barangay where the cache was found is located midway between Mt. Pinatubo and the Botolan town proper.

The ZPPO said the operation was conducted with the help of a former member of the New People’s Army (NPA), who provided information on the location of the hidden rebel supplies.

Units from the Botolan Municipal Police Station, Zambales Police Explosive and Canine Unit, and the 305^th Company of the Philippine Army’s Regional Mobile Force Battalion 3 assisted in the recovery and disposal of the firearms and explosives.

The ZPPO said the operation underscored the commitment by the Zambales police under Acting Provincial Director PCol Benjamin Ariola in defeating insurgency and maintaining peace and order in the province.

Authorities have maintained that the anti-communist drive has been gaining ground in Central Luzon, including Zambales, with multiple rebel surrenders documented in February, April, May and June this year.  

Tip-offs by former rebels have also resulted in the recovery of caches of firearms, ammunition and explosives, authorities said.

In March 2024, the Zambales Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) chaired by Gov. Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. came up with a resolution signifying the province’s commitment in maintaining a state of stable internal peace and security (SSIPS).

Ebdane stressed into the PPOC the need for “equitable, just, and strategic actions” to address peace and order problems in the province. 