Victor Corpus, who fought against and then for the Philippine government, dies at 79
Retired Brigadier General Victor Corpus, who was known for defecting to the rebel group New People’s Army (NPA) before becoming the top intelligence officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), has died on Thursday, April 4. He was 79.
Corpus’ death was confirmed by a family member in a Facebook post but the cause was not disclosed.
“We would like to request our relatives and friends to join us in prayer for the repose of the soul of our beloved and to ask God for comfort of the bereaved family. We value your prayers among anything else,” the post read.
Based on the records of the AFP, Corpus entered the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and graduated as a member of the “Dimasupil” Class of 1967.
In 1970, three years after his graduation at the PMA, Corpus defected to the NPA after apparently being disgruntled due to alleged corruption in the Armed Forces’ system. He was a young lieutenant of the Philippine Constabulary at the time. Two years later, martial law would be declared by then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
While in the enemy’s lair, Corpus led a raid on the armory of the PMA, where he had also served as an instructor, and guided the rebels until they successfully took high-powered firearms and ammunition.
However, Corpus decided to surrender to the government in 1976 where he was jailed for 10 years until Marcos Sr. was ousted during the 1986 EDSA People Power Revolution.
Under the administration of then Pres. Corazon Aquino, Corpus was among those granted amnesty in 1897 which paved the way for him to return to the military.
In the same year, Corpus was reinstated into the AFP and held various positions, the last being the chief of the Intelligence Service of AFP (ISAFP) under the administration of then Pres. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
In 1989, Corpus launched his book “Silent War” which chronicled his experiences in the NPA and offered a first-person point of view on the challenges of the communist insurgency in the Philippines.
He retired from the military service in 2004. His life was featured in a biographical film “Operation: Get Victor Corpus, the Rebel Soldier” which was portrayed by actor Rudy Fernandez.