By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division has denounced the alleged intrusion and recruitment efforts by the New People’s Army (NPA) in educational institutions.
The 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) called for an end to all recruitment activities following the discovery of propaganda materials linked to the underground youth group Kabataang Makabayan (KM) in areas near West Visayas State University’s main campus in La Paz, Iloilo City, and the University of the Philippines Visayas on December 6.
Flyers with slogans such as “Mabuhay ang Pulang Mandirigma,” “Rebolusyon Laban sa Kahirapan,” and “Sagot sa Kahirapan, digmang bayan” were reportedly found in the areas.
In a statement, the 3ID expressed concern over what it described as aggressive actions by the communist terrorist group (CTG), citing fears that the distribution of recruitment materials could exploit vulnerable students and lure them into the ranks of the NPA.
“These infiltration and recruitment efforts represent a desperate attempt by the CTG to find prospective cadres and leaders following the demise of their top-ranking officials in recent encounters,” Major General Marion R. Sison, commander of the 3ID, said.
He emphasized that students are particularly susceptible to deceptive propaganda and misinformation.
“We cannot afford for even one or two of our students to be led astray into the mountains, wasting their lives fighting for a futile cause. We will not allow this to happen,” Sison added.
He urged all educational institutions in Panay Island to take proactive measures to prevent CTG recruitment activities within their premises.
Sison also called for investigations to identify those responsible for distributing the recruitment materials and for appropriate administrative actions to be taken if necessary.
The 3ID intends to bring the matter to the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) 6 for a coordinated inter-agency approach to combat youth recruitment by the CTG.
“Our schools must serve as safe havens, free from the insidious influence of terrorist groups,” Sison said.
He appealed to school officials to collaborate with government forces to stop such recruitment efforts, emphasizing the importance of protecting the future of students.
Sison also addressed students directly, warning of the loss of dreams and opportunities often faced by those who fall into the NPA’s ranks.
“I hope our youth will learn from the tragic stories of students who were recruited and became NPA members. Most of them are now gone. Their dreams were lost, and their lives destroyed,” he said.
