Army steps up info drive to counter CPP-NPA recruitment

From the Philippine News Agency (May 9, 2022): Army steps up info drive to counter CPP-NPA recruitment (By Jason De Asis)

LECTURES VS. CPP-NPA. The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) conducts a lecture to 104 students of the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) in Barangay Zabali main campus, Baler, Aurora on Friday (May 6, 2022) against the recruitment efforts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA). The activity is being done to address the deceptive recruitment of the youth, especially in universities and colleges, and at the same time invite students to join the Philippine Army. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 91IB)

BALER, Aurora –The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry “Sinagtala” Battalion (91IB) is stepping up its information and education campaign to counter the recruitment efforts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA), particularly among students.

Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto Jr., acting commanding officer of 91IB, said on Saturday they will not sit down in the conduct of the information drive until all students, parents, and teachers are aware of the deceptive propaganda of the CPP-NPA.

Recto said the 91IB troops held lectures to some 104 students of the Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT) in Barangay Zabali main campus in this town on May 6 upon the request of the school officials.

“This activity is being done to address the deceptive recruitment of the youth, especially in universities and colleges, and of course, we are inviting the students to join the Philippine Army,” he said in an interview.

He added that there is compelling evidence that some of these so-called youth groups have been recruiting and infiltrating schools to deceive students.

Thus, Recto said there is a need for a more massive and aggressive information campaign in different schools and indigenous people (IPs) communities in the province.

“With this kind of activity, our children would be aware of the actions by the leftist groups so that their future will not be destroyed. We should act to end the terrorist recruitments,” the military official said.

He added that the 91IB, in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and other government agencies, will continue to do its mandated task by conducting similar activities so that students will not be deceived by terrorist groups.

“We will continue to inculcate to the students the importance of patriotism, nationalism, and other basic desirable values to infuse in them, faith in the creator, belief in the sanctity and dignity of life, conviction, and unity of the family, and adherence to the truth and justice. We are encouraging them to join us in serving the people with dignity,” Recto added.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The NDF has been formally designated as a terrorist organization by the Anti-Terrorism Council on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and inseparable part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1173883