PUP, parents join hands to protect youth from CTG recruitment

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 20, 2021): PUP, parents join hands to protect youth from CTG recruitment (By Marita Moaje)

FOR OUR CHILDREN. Hands Off Our Children Movement, Inc and Polytechnic University of the Philippines’ Psychology Department sign an agreement on April 15, 2021 to provide intervention programs for students recruited by communist terrorist groups. The deal provides for an exchange of services and expertise on the issue of students lured into the armed conflict. (Photo courtesy of HOOCM, Inc)

Students victimized by deceptive recruitment of youth groups allegedly affiliated with Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) will benefit from an intervention program hatched by the Hands Off Our Children Movement, Inc. (HOOCM, Inc.) and the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP).

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed on April 15, 2021 by HOOCM and the PUP Psychology Department and Psychology Graduate School for a Psychology Extension Program that will provide training and psychosocial interventions.

“One of the objectives of the University is to provide extension service programs to its target beneficiaries as it is dedicated to extending its expertise to the community through the College of Social Sciences and Development-Psychology Department and Graduate School–Master of Arts in Psychology,” the MOU read.

PUP will provide mental health services while HOOCM will turn over the information of students recruited by groups such as Anakbayan, Anakpawis, League of Filipino Students, and Kabataan Party-list.

PUP and HOOCM will also try to get into the bottom of communist terrorist groups’ (CTG) recruitment and how they agitate students into joining the armed conflict.

HOOCM, Inc. is composed of parents whose children were recruited inside universities where they were enrolled.

Before they knew it, their children are already deeply involved in CPP-NPA-NDF organizations and eventually leave home.

"Putting aside our political beliefs and focusing on making a conducive and peaceful space for our children has motivated us to work as one," HOOCM said in a statement.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1137436