CLARK FREEPORT – The Army’s 7th Infantry “Kaugnay” Division (7th ID) yesterday warned parents of “intensified covert recruitment” being reportedly conducted by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) in schools and major universities.
At least three of the recruited students have died during clashes with the military in various areas of the Army’s Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) since last year, the 7th ID noted.
In a statement yesterday, the 7th ID cited reports which it said was also confirmed by the Philippine National Police (PNP), that the NPA has already infiltrated 18 schools where students have been recruited to become “regular members of the communist organization.”
“It is not surprising that the youth are the target recruits of communist terrorist groups (CTGs) as they are idealistic, vulnerable to radicalism and easy to train,” the statement said.
The 7th ID said it has been preventing this by urging parents of students “to be more vigilant and be constantly informed about the activities and whereabouts of their children even when inside their schools and campuses.”
“The NPA recruitment process normally starts with selecting prospective student members who are smart, idealistic and passionate about a cause. They would then teach them about communism and indoctrinate them about activism. An invitation to join rallies would come next. After they have proven their passion and courage in a number of demonstrations and rallies, they will then be ‘immersed’ in a community where they get their first exposure with the armed group of the NPA,” the 7th ID said.
The 7th ID recalled that in September last year, John Paul Calica, a student of the Asian Institute for Computer Studies, and Guiller Martin Cadano, a B.S. Psychology Cum Laude graduate of UP Clark both perished in an encounter with government troops in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. “Their families had no idea of what they were doing,” it noted.
The 7th ID also reported that “the latest victim was Gerald Salonga, yet another B.S. Psychology student from UP Clark, who also got killed in an encounter with NPAs and government troops in Ma. Aurora, Aurora on Sept. 2 this year.”
Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr., 7th ID commander, said “these students could have had a bright future and become productive members of the society had they not been negatively influenced and recruited by the NPA.”
