ILOILO CITY — The Philippine Army 3rd Infantry Division (ID) has 181 new soldiers who would go after the New People's Army (NPA).
The 181 soldiers with the rank of Private First Class (PFC) can be deployed anywhere in Panay and Negros after they graduated Thursday, July 14.
“The new graduates have undergone tough physical conditioning, psychological, and emotional pressure, and trial of camaraderie that prepared them for their future endeavors as members of the Philippine Army,” said Major Gen. Benedict Arevalo, 3rd ID commander.
They underwent seven months of training at the 3rd ID Training School in Camp Peralta, the 3rd ID headquarters in Jamindan, Capiz. They were taught the fundamentals of soldiery and instilled with the Army’s core values of honor, duty, and patriotism.
Arevalo said the additional force of homegrown soldiers can strengthen the Army’s manpower to fight the NPA in Western Visayas and Central Visayas.
Brothers from Sibalom, Antique emerged as the top two graduate soldiers. Private Maxim Leo Cabigunda had a rating of 98.68 percent while his brother Private Dennis Cabigunda had a rating of 87.40 percent.