‘REDS GO TECHY’ 3ID: Rebels ‘active’ in recruiting youth online

From Panay News (Sep 28, 2021): ‘REDS GO TECHY’ 3ID: Rebels ‘active’ in recruiting youth online (By Ruby Silubrico)

Rebels are invading the digital world to recruit more members, especially young people, according to the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).

“Sila (youth) ang target talaga ng mga rebelde,” said Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander.

With mobility still restricted due to the coronavirus pandemic, the New People’s Army (NPA) is riding on the virtual shift to entice the youth, according Arevalo.

Arevalo said the rebels are using Facebook to recruit.

He encouraged parents to “watch over your children.”

Apart from recruitment, Arevalo said the rebels’ extortion activity also went digital.

“They resorted to extortion because they are suffering from hunger and lack of resources,” said Arevalo.

In fact, Arevalo said the NPA already sent letters of extortion to people based on cellular phones recovered in the recent encounter in Barangay Siya, Tapaz, Capiz.

“The pandemic really affected them. This coming elections wala silang makukuha. We remind politicians not to give them anything,” Arevalo said.

The rebels are weakening, according to Arevalo.

He cited the efforts of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) member agencies in ending the insurgency.

Arevalo also thanked the community “for giving tips” to the government forces that resulted in encounters, capture and surrender of NPA members.

“We are now facing two viruses, the NPA virus and COVID-19 virus and we have to face them squarely. We have to help one another to face and solve these problems. The AFP could not do it alone without the help of the people and other agencies concerned,” Arevalo said.

https://www.panaynews.net/reds-go-techy-3id-rebels-active-in-recruiting-youth-online/