BY CRIS DIAZ, Executive Editor
CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City: Fifteen former members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) were now full pledge soldiers, the military said on Thursday.
Maj. Francisco P. Garello, Jr., Chief of the army’s Division of Public Affairs, said that the 15 former communist NPAs surrendered on separate occasions and were among the 281 newly full pledge soldiers of the army’ Fourth Infantry Division here.
He said that aside from the 15 NPA surrenderers, 48 members of the Indigenous Peoples and 25 others who graduated from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) also became full pledge soldiers.
Garello said that the 281 new soldiers from the 45-Day Infantry Orientation Course (INFOC) at the 4th Division Training School (4DTS) in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon on July 25, 2022.
According to Lt. Col. Edgardo V. Talaroc Jr, commandant of the 4DTS, the INFOC was an specialization course conducted for the fresh graduates of Candidate Soldier Course (CSC) Classes 690 and 691 of 2021 after completion of the four-month rigorous Basic Military Training on May 23, 2022.
In his congratulatory message, MGen. Wilbur C. Mamawag, 4ID Commander, exhorted the new soldiers to always find the courage and discipline to do what is right and fair not only for “yourself and your families,” but for the entire Philippine Army. -0-
