Ex-NPA rebel joins Army
Credit to Author: Tempo Desk| Date: Wed, 01 May 2019 08:45:11 +0000
PRIVATE Albert Diez receives an award from high-ranking officers of the 10th Infantry Division for topping the Candidate Soldiers Course Class composed of 132 Army recruits in a ceremony in Monkayo, Compostela Valley. Diez has been a communist rebel for four years until he decided to surrender last year, and eventually join the military. (Photo courtesy of 10th ID PAO)
A former communist rebel has topped the course for incoming Army recruits in Davao region and nearby areas, a fresh start since he surrendered to the government after serving the New People’s Army (NPA) for four years.
From ‘Ka Dindo’, he is now Private Albert Diez who will be assigned in Compostela Valley where he used to play hide-and-seek game with Army troopers operating in the province.
“I’m so much grateful and honored for giving me the chance to make up for the wrong decisions I made in the past. My sincerest thanks to the people behind this success,” said Diez.
Brig. Gen. Gilbert Saret, commander of the 1001st Infantry Brigade, said Diez ended on top of the Candidate Soldiers Course Class 569 composed of 132 candidate soldiers.
“This is a clear manifestation that the E-CLIP (Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program) of the government is significantly gaining headway by giving chance to enlist deserving individuals with leadership potentials to serve our country,” said Saret.
But topping the class for Army recruits is not something miraculous for Diez as his intellectual capacity was also recognized when he was still in the NPA.
Belonging from the Manobo tribe, Diez was recruited to join the communist movement in 2012 at 17 years old – influenced by a classmate while he was taking a two-year vocational program in their province.
He was first assigned as a member of Team Medic of the Sentro De Gravidad, of the Guerilla Force 33 of the NPA. He was then promoted as a political guide and finally became a political instructor after undergoing various party courses inside the communist movement.
In February last year, Diez surrendered to Lt. Colonel Oscar Balignasay Jr, the 25th Infantry Battalion commander stationed in Camp Kalaw, Poblacion, Monkayo, Compostela Valley.
When asked why he surrendered, Diez told the military official that the struggle against the government turned out to be something that he did not dream of.
Another contributory factor is that the regular support system that the local communist rebels had promised him when he was recruited, was not accomplished.
“He was given immediate assistance and taken care by the 25IB while his enrollment to E-CLIP was on process. All the assistance and support was provided to him until he signified his intent to apply for a Candidate Soldier Course,” said Balignasay. (Aaron Recuenco)