ILOILO City – Two former members of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggagawa-Pilipinas – Revolutionary Proletarian Army – Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPMP-RPA-ABB) who surrendered to the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) of the Philippine Army are now soldiers.
Private Vincent Dela Cruz of Barangay Daga, Cadiz, City, Negros Occidental and Private Jogie Siplao of Barangay Locotan, Kabankalan, Negros Occidental recently graduated after seven months of training.
They were part of 181 trainees who successfully graduated.
Captain Kim Apitong, 3ID spokesperson, said Dela Cruz and Siplao underwent rigid training on the fundamentals of soldiery and the Army’s core values of honor, duty and patriotism. They belonged to the special quota of Candidate Soldiers “MAILAP” Class 689-2021.
Their graduation was held on July 14.
The RPA-ABB is a breakaway group of the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
They split in 1996 due to ideological differences.
In 2000, the RPA-ABB signed a peace agreement with the national government under then President Joseph Estrada.
On Sept. 19, 2019, then President Rodrigo Duterte led the formal demilitarization of the former RPM-P/RPA-ABB combatants in Camp Peralta.
“Hindi basta-basta maka-avail ng chance to be part of the military organization. We conducted an assessment,” Apitong said.
For his part, Major General Benedict Arevalo, the 3ID commander, said these two new soldiers should inspire other youths in the rebel movement to return to the folds of the law and serve the country in a significant way.
“I am happy that these former members of the insurgency movement finally realized that a brighter future awaits them,” said Arevalo./PN
