Youth sector of Ilocos Sur asks NPA rebels to surrender for lasting peace

From the Philippine Information Agency (Nov 6, 2019): Youth sector of Ilocos Sur asks NPA rebels to surrender for lasting peace

STA. LUCIA, Ilocos Sur, Nov. 5 (PIA) - - The youth in this town have asked the members of the Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) to voluntarily surrender with their firearms to the authorities for perpetual peace and development in the countryside.

These youth generations made the call in a peace walk rally held last week in Sta. Lucia town prior to the culmination of the three-day youth leadership forum held in Sta. Lucia North Central Elementary School.

Lieutenant Colonel Rodrigo A. Mariñas Jr., the commander of the army’s 81st Infantry Battalion, told on Tuesday that the forum was attended by at least 61 youth leaders which was spearheaded by the Philippine Army.

The activity aims to enlighten the youth about their roles and responsibilities as future leaders, the ills of leftist organizations, and countering exploitation of the youth sector by left-leaning organizations.

Dubbed as the 1st Sta Lucia Youth Leadership Summit (YLS), which was held on October 25-27, 2019, the forum was anchored on a theme “Youth of Today is the Catalyst of Change for a Better Tomorrow.”

“The youth decided to express their sentiments by writing an open letter addressed to the NPA members in Ilocos Sur and asking them to surrender for the sake of peace and development in the province and for the sake of peaceful living with their families while Christmas season is fast approaching,” said Mariñas.

During the peace walk rally within the municipality, the youth has also carried a slogan: “No to the Communists, Yes for Peace! Spare us from Recruitment and We Love Peace!”

Mariñas said that the conduct of the YLS is an initiative of the army, in collaboration with different stakeholders to enhance the leadership and promote camaraderie among youth for them to become prime movers in peace-building.

“In this forum, we are also promoting awareness among youths on misleading issues being used by Communist NPA Terrorists (CNTs) to lure them to join the armed struggle,” said Mariñas.

Other topics discussed during the three-day forum were disaster response awareness, lectures on spiritual development, effects of illegal drugs, environment protection awareness, and various team-building activities.

“The youth sector is the future of the country, and we should conduct this type of activity to mold them as future leaders and responsible citizens of the country,” said Mariñas.

Further, Mariñas said, the successful conduct of the 1st YLS in Sta. Lucia town was supported by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation & Unity (OPAPRU) headed by Secretary Carlito Guansing Galvez, Jr.; the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Sta. Lucia headed by Mayor Joseph Simon B. Valdez; and the Sta. Lucia North Central Elementary School (SLNCES) headed by school principal Christine Haluber.

Major General Lenard T. Agustin, the commander of the army’s 7th Infantry Division, lauded the partnership of the various stakeholders for the successful conduct of the youth forum in Ilocos Sur.

“The collaboration among OPAPRU, LGU of Sta Lucia and SLNCES is an indication that stakeholders are working together as embodied in Executive Order 70 or the Whole of Nation Approach to End the Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC),” said Agustin. (JCR/FGL, PIA 1)

https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1029669