MANILA, Dec. 22 -- Military and police personnel on Sunday recovered a high-powered machine gun and ammunition formerly belonging to the government following an operation against New People's Army (NPA) remnants in Lopez, Quezon.

The recovered items were a .50 caliber machine gun and 179 rounds of ammunition, according to Col. Michael Aquino, acting Public Affairs Office chief of the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division (ID).

"Initial assessment indicates that the recovered firearm and ammunition is the same weapon seized by the NPA elements under the Apolonio Mendoza Command during their attack on a Philippine Coast Guard station and a Philippine Navy vessel in Real, Quezon, in August 2003," he said in a statement Sunday night.

The...