Army: recruitment in schools will not prevent NPA demise

From the Mindanao Times (Oct 11): Army: recruitment in schools will not prevent NPA demise

The 10th Infantry Division said the recruitment of students to eventually join the guerrilla movement doesn't have a huge impact on military's efforts to finally put an end to the communist insurgency.

Speaking on Wednesday’s AFP-PNP press briefing held at the Royal Mandaya hotel, Capt. Jerry Lamosao, the spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division, said there's definitely an attempt by the Communist Party o the Philippines to shore up its Red fighters with fresh recruits.

But this can easily be averted if the parents are vigilant enough and be more active in the activities of their children from age 10 onward.

“We are calling the parents to guide their children in elementary, high school or college … especially on activities in far-flung areas,” he said.

He said the NPA is already desperate since there were 451 regular Red fighters who surrendered since January this year. Meanwhile, 563 Militia ng Bayan members, 218 Sangay ng Partido sa Lokalidad (SPL), and 6,000 members of the Underground Mass Organization, which is tasked with recruitment, have also surrendered during that same period.

On the other hand, Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson of Department of Education (DEPED) XI, said that the military has made it clear that the recruitment was limited to the National Capital Region. He also said that they checked with their own records but the recruitment is contained in the tertiary level.

“But of course there were talks on recruitment here in Davao Region since 2016 but all of you know that these were appropriately addressed,” he said.

He also explained that young students joining rallies are being assessed.

“The visual about young children bringing placards ... we do not immediately take it and embrace that as gospel truth because there is this policy of investigating situations so that is how we do things before we have judgment,” he added.

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