The arrest of the six members of the New People’s Army — who turned up to be minors — at Mabinay,Negros Oriental, yesterday has stirred deep alarm in the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Central Command (CentCom).
Col. Medel Aguilar, Assistant Chief of the Unified Staff for Civil Military operations of the AFP-CentCom, said that it should cause an alarm but not just among them but among all concerned individuals.
New People’s Army (NPA) fighters (AFP/ MANILA BULLETIN)
“It should cause an alarm to all of us. Protecting children and minors from unlawful acts is our obligation. Knowing our role and doing it is a test to our nationalism, ”Aguilar said.
Aguilar said he is calling on everyone to help in protecting children and minors from exploitation, especially through recruitment of young people to become terrorists.
Lt. Gen. Paul Talytay Atal, CENTCOM Commander, , said that everyone should participate and act against what CPP-NPA is doing to minors and to young individuals.
“We have to decisively act on this issue because the future of our youth is at stake. We have to protect the youth from the CPP-NPA exploitation of their young minds and idealism,” Atal said.
Meanwhile, the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR)-Cebu on its FB post deeply bemoaned that what had happened to the arrested young individuals was a “publicity stunt to demonize individuals and groups committed to the cause of social justice and genuine peace.”
Anakbayan also express its disappointments on what had happened to the six arrested young individuals. JoisaCesista, chairperson of Anakbayan said that “they can’t blame young individuals to be part of the CPP-NPA because of what is happening in the society under the presidency of President Rodrigo Duterte.”
“PCPR calls on the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP), and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) to immediately resume the peace talks in order to address the root-causes of the armed conflict.
“The peace talks should address the socio-economic conditions of landlessness, depressed wages, inaccessible social services, burdensome taxes, and state repression among others as these are the material problems that propel the cause for an armed struggle.”part of PCPR statement said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/03/05/central-command-alarmed-over-npa-recruitment-of-young-people/
The Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR)-Cebu and Anakbayan are Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) front organizations that routinely engage in anti-government/military propaganda/disinformation activity.
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