SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) — The Philippine Army encourages parents, schools, and school organizations to keep close relationships with the youth to protect them from the Communist Terrorist Groups’ (CTGs) influence.
According to Colonel Eric D. Guevarra, the Deputy Brigade Commander of the Philippine Army’s 203rd Infantry Brigade, the youth is the most vulnerable sector to CTGs.
“Based on our experience, ang mga sumu-surrender o or naka-capture namin na kabataan, [sa] mga prestigious schools pa nag-aral,” he said.
(Based on our experience, those who surrender or we capture belong to the youth sector who study at prestigious schools.)
Guevarra emphasized that CTGs, particularly the New People’s Army (NPA), use vulnerabilities in the family as an entry point to recruit the youth.
“Remember that itong mga…left-leaning organizations na ito o yung NPA for that matter, ang unang rule nila is to break the family. ‘Pag na-break na nila ‘yung family, papasukin ka na nila dahan dahan,” he explained.
(Remember that these left-leaning organizations’ first rule, NPA for that matter, is to break the family. After breaking the family, they will start infiltrating it slowly.)
He noted that the former rebels they had captured had disowned their families following the teachings of the CTGs.
“Kaya I request ‘yung ating mga audience ngayon, most especially yung teachers at parents ng mga kabataan na bantayan nyo maigi ‘yung inyong mga anak, at maging malapit sa kanila kasi hindi natin alam na baka nai-influence na sila ng [makakaliwang grupo,]” Guevarra said during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas of the Philippine Information Agency MIMAROPA, March 18.
(I request our audience today, especially teachers and parents of youth, to keep a close eye on them, and be close to them because we may not be aware that left-leaning groups are already influencing them.)
The government, through the Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF ELCAC), continues to raise awareness of CTGs’ recruitment tactics through programs such as Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Orientation for the Youth and Students on Terrorism Recruitment to protect the youth from their influence. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA-Occidental Mindoro)
