NTF-ELCAC to tap filmmaking vs communist recruitment

From the Philippine Information Agency (Jan 27, 2021): NTF-ELCAC to tap filmmaking vs communist recruitment (By Rudolph Ian Alama)

DAVAO CITY, Jan 25 (PIA)- The National Task Force-Ending Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is tapping filmmaking as means to educated young citizens on the true nature of the communist insurgency.

National Security Adviser Sec. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. who is concurrently the Vice-Chairperson of the NTF ELCAC said they will be adapting the program of RTF-ELCAC in Region 13 where they tapped high school and college students in making films which showed the true nature of the CPP-NPA.

“Doon din sa mga eskwelahan na iba ay unti-unti na nating naimumulat ang ating mga kabataan, doon sa Region 13 halimbawa gumawa sila sa mga high school at saka colehiyo doon ng mga kanya-kanyang independent indie movies yung region 13, pinakita nila kung ano talagang ginagawa ng CPP-NPA and we will be adapting that as a national program. (In the schools we are slowly awakening the youth, in Region 13 for example, they made in the high school and colleges there, respective independent movies, they showed what is the true nature of the CPP-NPA and we will be adapting that as a national program), Sec. Esperon said during the press conference held at Camp Panacan in Davao City on Satuday (Jan. 23).

The Secretary said the NTF-ELCAC is consistently utilizing public information campaigns particularly focused on the youth and student sector to sway them away from being recruited by the CPP-NPA thru their fronts.

“May programa ang CPP-NPA, a five-year program from 2016 to 2021 na magrecruit talaga ng mga kabataan, kasi wala na silang pangpuno sa nawawala nilang mga kadre, (There is a program of the CPP-NPA, a five-year program from 2016 to 2021 to recruit the youth, since they have no more people to fill up their dwindling cadre)” Esperon said.

According to Sec. Esperon, based on the records the CPP-NPA had recruited around 8,000 youth of which are high school, early college and out of school youths.

The Region 13 filmmaking activity mentioned by Sec. Esperon was the 1st PNP Caraga Film Festival organized by the Police Regional Office-13 in 2019. It gathered 46 entries from high school and college students around CARAGA region and revolves around the theme “Terorismo Hunungon, Nasod Palambuon” (Stopping Terrorism, Developing the Nation).

Aside from Region 13, the Regional Task Force-ELCAC in Region XI also organized a documentary workshop participated by provincial information officers. Held last year in Nabunturan, Davao de Oro, the participants were trained into making video documentary after which they will be producing documentary films that focuses on stories about reintegration. (PIA/RG Alama)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1064845