The 3rd Infantry Division of the Philippine Army (NPA) condemned and called for the cessation of alleged recruitment of members by the New People’s Army in schools in Western Visayas.
The 3ID condemned the alleged school recruitment by the “Communist Terrorist Group (CTG)” following the discovery of recruitment materials at the West Visayas State University and University of the Philippines-Visayas.
Maj. Gen. Marion Sison, 3ID Commander, said on Monday, Dec. 9, that the distribution of recruitment materials in schools represents a desperate attempt by the NPA to look for prospective cadres and leaders following the demise of their top and high-ranking leaders in recent encounters.
“Our students are particularly vulnerable to these deceptive tactics. We cannot afford that one or two of our students will again find their way to the mountains and waste their lives fighting for a futile cause. We will not allow this to happen”, he said in a 3ID press release.
Through alleged propaganda and misinformation, these infiltration and recruitment efforts might lure and exploit, especially vulnerable students to eventually join the ranks of the New People’s Army, he said.
Sison urged educational institutions in the region, especially in Panay, to initiate actions preventing CTG infiltration in the schools and to conduct investigations on those responsible for distributing the recruitment materials.*