Groups hit Reds for exploitation, recruitment of youths

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 13,2021): Groups hit Reds for exploitation, recruitment of youths (By Lade Jean Kabagani)

League of Parents of the Philippines and Hands Off Our Children members. (Contributed photo)

The League of Parents of the Philippines (LPP) on Saturday railed against the deceptive schemes of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) to recruit more youths to join the communist insurgency.

Remy Rosadio, LPP chair, said the communist groups are also exploiting youths to overthrow the government which has been very visible by the NPA's infiltration of schools, targeting massive recruitment of students to join the armed movement.

"We cannot just sit down and watch the children being victimized by the evil group CPP-NPA-NDF," Rosadio said in a statement on Friday.

She assailed the communist groups' continuous indoctrination of wrong ideologies to the youth to recruit more members of the NPA.

"As mothers, we felt that it is our obligation to protect not only our children but all children nationwide and stop the deceptive recruitment that was happening inside the school campuses," she said.

Rosadio recalled that the LPP's formation was by issues on the CPP-NPA’s supposed recruitment of the youth into the armed movement.

"Since the year 2019, LPP has been going out in the street and not afraid for our security in order to protect our youth and all children nationwide against the deception, lies, and exploitation of the CPP-NPA-NDF and its legal front organization," she said.

Rosadio said they will be relentless in holding series of indignation and picket rallies alongside parents of student activists who were reportedly recruited by progressive youth organizations, to end armed conflict perpetrated by the communist movement.

"We know that our lives will be endangered because we are fighting the communist groups and their allies, but we are not afraid to face them and we will do every possible way to stop the recruitment of the children used as child soldiers by the CPP-NPA-NDF," she said.

Rosadio cited the need to end the deceptions and lies of the communist rebel groups and their legal front-organization, as she urged other parents to be vigilant against the recruitment schemes of the communists.

"In line with the celebration of the International Day Against the Use of Child Soldiers 2021, I am calling the attention of all parents nationwide, especially those residing in the remote areas in various provinces, to be vigilant and watch their children activities in order to avoid being victimized by the terrorist group CPP-NPA-NDF," she said.

Rosadio called on the government to heighten the protection of children against the lawless elements.

"It is very depressing that the NPA is using children as young as 7 years old to take part in the armed conflict. Let us join hands and protect our children against the atrocities of these terrorists," she said.

Parents' battle vs. terrorists

Meanwhile, the Hands Off Our Children (HOOC) also condemned the CPP-NPA-NDF's recruitment of children into armed revolution.

"We will continue with our advocacy to protect our children and all the youth of this nation against the CPP-NPA-NDF and their allied organizations' deceptive recruitment," the group said.

HOOC vowed to become more aggressive in their fights against communist groups' recruitment schemes.

"We will be more vigilant in fighting against any front organization of CPP-NPA-NDF that radicalizes our youth leading them to participate in the armed struggle," it said.

HOOC said there will be no pause in their call for initiatives to end armed conflicts, particularly in the far-flung communities.

"We will continue to reveal the truth as you will continue to hear our voices, share our stories spread awareness, and protect our children from the terrorist groups," the group said. "Hands Off Our Children will continue to protect and save our children, our youth, our Filipino families and the nation."

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1130574