ZAMBOANGA CITY – The government has been reaching out to the city’s schools and barangays to prevent the entry and spread of false ideologies especially among the youth, which is considered by the military as a form of recruitment by violent extremists, said a military official recently.
Lt. Rex Barry Sison, company commander of the Charlie Coy, 74th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army said they have been engaging communities that may be prone to the entry of violent extremists in the city.
“We visit communities in coordination with the religious sector and the academe, and we talk about preventing violent extremism, while we provide medical missions and other services,” Lt. Sison said during the Usapang Pangkapayaan, Usapang Pangkaunlaran (UP-UP) Zamboanga forum initiated by the Philippine Air Force and the 4th Civil Relations Group (4CRG) of the Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) recently.
In addition to the barangays, the military has also been engaging with schools.
During the previous UP-UP Zamboanga event last July 6, Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) federation president Cary John Pioc said the youth are very prone to false ideologies. This idea is reiterated by Crime Watch Volunteer founder Sonny Boy Jalani.
Jalani said “we must open the eyes of the youth to the reality of violent extremism for them to understand that it is wrong.”
UP-UP Zamboanga is a regular forum that provides security and development stakeholders an opportunity to share ideas to promote sustainable peace and development in the region. The event was conducted at the Edwin Andrews Air Base (EAAB), but there have been recommendations to bring the forum to wider audiences particularly in malls and schools so more people will be engaged. (ALT/DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1025811
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