WEAPONS FOUND. Troops of the Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion at the site in Barangay Mahalang, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental, where they discovered explosive devices and ammunition for .30-caliber machine gun on Thursday (Sept. 22, 2022). The area is an abandoned hideout of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army.(Photo courtesy of 94th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army) BACOLOD CITY - Troops of the Philippine Army's 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) have seized various explosive devices and ammunition from the abandoned hideout of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) in the hinterland village of Mahalang in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental province on Thursday. The recovered weapons include eight anti-personnel mines, two anti-tank mines, and 1,932 rounds of ammunition for .30-caliber machine gun, a report of the 94IB on Friday showed. Lt. Col. Van Donald Almonte, commanding officer of 94IB, said they were able to locate the weapons based on the information provided by a concerned citizen. "The recovery of the cache of weapons saved lives, who may also include the NPA mass supporters," he said. "This is a clear manifestation of their (CPP-NPA) deceptions. They are using the masses for food and other needs, but they will not be spared when they implement their terroristic intentions," Almonte added. In the past, government troops had also recovered components of landmines following clashes with the NPA in the villages of Himamaylan City. According to the Philippine Army, anti-personnel mines are designed against human targets while anti-tank mines are intended to destroy or damage heavy vehicles, including tanks and armored vehicles. The Ottawa Treaty, also known as the "Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention", which took effect on March 1, 1999, prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of landmines. (PNA) }