BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – They used to be sworn enemies of the republic. Now, they are sworn to defend it.
Thry used to call each other “Ka (short for kasama or comrade) when they were in the rebel movement.
Now, they will address their officers as “sir” and they will be called “Private,” the entry-level rank in the Philippine Army’s hierarchy.
The two Negrosanon graduates – Vincent D Dela Cruz of Barangay Daga, in Cadiz City, and Jogie V Siplao of Barangay Locotan, Kabankalan City – are among the 181 recruits who completed the Basic Military Training under the special quota of the 3rd Infantry Division’s Class Mailap 389-2021.
The class graduated the seven month Basic Military Training last week at Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz province.
The RPA is the armed wing of the Rebolusyunaryong Partido ng Manggagawang ng Pilipinas and emerged out of a split within the Communist the Philippines in the 1990s.
The rest of the news release from 3rd ID information officer, Capt. Kim Apitong, reads:
“In 2000, the RPA-ABB signed a peace agreement with the national government under President Joseph Estrada.
On September 19, 2019, former President Rodrigo Duterte led the formal demilitarization of the former RPM-P/RPA-ABB combatants in Camp Peralta. Pvt Dela Cruz and Pvt Siplao were members of former combatants who underwent a 45-days training at 3ID.
Likewise, they were allowed to be part of the Philippine Army and passed the seven months of rigorous and disciplined Basic Military Training.
They were taught the fundamentals of soldiery and instilled with the Army’s core values of honor, duty, and patriotism.
They belong to the special quota of Candidate Soldiers ‘MAILAP” Class 689-2021, who graduated on July 14, 2022.
In his message, MGen Benedict Arevalo, 3ID Commander, said that these two Privates would inspire and motivate other youth inside the 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 armed movement finally realized that a brighter future is waiting for them outside the organization, and it makes a big difference,” said MGen Arevalo.
