By Jennifer P. Rendon
Parents know best.
And that “best” is certainly not allowing their children to join the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).
PNP chief General Debold Sinas appealed to the parental instincts of former rebels and supporters to prevent their children from being recruited by the rebels.
Sinas made the remarks during the closing ceremony of the Akap-Kapatid Program at a resort in Barangay Botong, Oton, Iloilo on Friday, March 5.
The second batch of Akap-Kapatid program had 98 participants – 57 from Tapaz, Capiz and 41 from Calinog, Iloilo.
Akap-Kapatid is the government-initiated program that aims to re-integrate rebels and their supporters to embrace peace.
It is a brainchild of the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict 6 (RTF-ELCAC-6), through the Police Regional Office 6 and the Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division.
It is a uniquely designed intervention program which employs collaborative response among the members of the RTF-ELCAC.
Sinas told participants that they are living testaments of how the CPP-NPA had robbed them of their youth.
“Basta kinuha kayo at pinaakyat sa bundok,” he said.
He warned them against joining activities initiated by left-leaning groups.
“Ang iba, doon na recruit,” he said.
He then brought up the case of what the PNP earlier dubbed as a “rescue operation” of Lumad students from alleged communist groups at a retreat house inside a university in Cebu City.
These children were allegedly separated from their families at a young age.
In the next batches of Akap-Kapatid, Sinas said he plans to bring over members of “Hands Off Our Children,” a group whose advocacy is to prevent minors from being recruited into organizations espousing violent extremism.
“These are mothers and fathers who sent their children to good schools and universities only to be recruited by the NPA. ‘Yung na-recover na ang anak nila, ayaw naman sumama sa kanila. Na-indoctrinate na,” he said.
For Sinas, parents should let their children enjoy their youth. He said there are children who are only 15 or 16 years old who want to talk about mining, graft and corruption, and government debt.
“Ganun ba tayo magpalaki? Tapos ayaw na umuwi sa pamilya kasi kasalanan ng parents or government kung bakit mahirap tayo. You don’t need to be rich for your child to look up to you. Basta magsama kayo,” he told the participants.
The country’s top cop also asked the former rebels and supporters not to go to the NPA when they have problems.
“Pumunta na kayo sa gobyerno. ‘Yun ang pakiusap namin. Sana nagising at nakita nyo na ang katotohanan. Sana naiintidihan nyo na ang gobyerno ay para sa lahat. Maski pa may nagawa kayong mali, handang tumanggap at tumulong sa inyo. Ganon po ang gobyerno natin,” he said.
But on the same note, Sinas asked them to be extra cautious and always look up to their individual safety and security.
Just like the first batch of Akap-Kapatid participants, they were given medical and dental services.
The Regional Health Service 6 conducted procedures like tooth extraction, dentures, medical check-up, blood pressure monitoring, eye check up, medical checkup, medicines and vitamins.
They were also treated to manicure, pedicure and free haircut services.
The participants were also given lectures by the different speakers from member agencies on topics such as self-awareness, stress management, anti-criminality and anti-drugs, criminal justice system, “Me and My Family,” “Me and My Community,” “Bayanihan Para sa Atin To,” threat to national security, COVID-19 awareness response, The Anti-terrorism Law, and Executive Order No. 70.
During the culmination activity, caravan of services from different agencies was set up.
Each participant received relief supplies from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, rice and gift packs from Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6), and backpack and t-shirt from Department of Tourism.
They also received two health kits from the PRO-6 and the Regional Health Service, mountain bike from the Filipino Indian Commerce and Welfare Society and Rotary Club – Makati Nielsen, and cash assistance of P5,000.
