RTF-ELCAC6 reaches out to universities

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 5, 2021): RTF-ELCAC6 reaches out to universities (By Jaime S. Cabag) 

ILOILO CITY, Feb. 5 (PIA) – The Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict Region (RTF-ELCAC) 6 is reaching out to universities in Western Visayas which have been included in the list of educational institutions in the country which the national task force has named as recruitment grounds of the communist terrorist group (CTG).

So far, the regional task force has engaged three universities in the region in a dialogue on the recruitment activities of the CTG. The dialogue involved members of the task force on one hand and officials of the universities on the other side.

These universities are Aklan State University (ASU) of Aklan, Filamer Christian University (FCU) of Capiz, and Central Philippine University (CPU) of Iloilo.

National Task Force Director for Stakeholder Engagement Fidel Añonuevo, Jr. commended RTF-ELCAC6 “for its efforts in engaging the universities in Western Visayas that were included in the published list of educational institutions that are targeted by the CPP-NPA for its recruitment operations.”

Añonuevo, who joined the RTF-ELCAC6 Technical Working Group meeting on February 5, said that with these efforts the regional task force has set a “great example” for other regional task forces to follow when it comes to addressing the CTG’s exploitation of our youth.

In its official statement, Aklan State University said that it “will not allow communist-terrorist groups to destroy the future of our students; hence, ASU is one with the peace-loving Aklanons in denouncing their (CTG) criminal activities.”

Central Philippine University has also issued an official statement, saying “The university does not and has never condoned activities which promote recruitment for armed resistance to the government. As Christians, we encourage peaceful resolution of conflicts. This is the humane thing to do.”

Añonuevo urged the region’s task force to continue the effort of “protecting our youth from the deceptive recruitment of the CTG.” (JBG/JSC/PIA6)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1066057