ILOILO City – The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) plans to counter the alleged recruitment activities of the New People’s Army (NPA) in schools by conducting symposiums.
“We are coordinating with various schools if they can give us time to have a symposium with students,” said Police Captain Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson.
The ICPO plans to conduct forums in high schools and colleges.
“We will enlighten the students about the NPA and why it is not good to join the rebel group. Conducting forums is a proactive measure,” said Sangrines.
The Philippine Army recently bared that half or perhaps even majority of NPA cadres in Panay Island are below the legal age of 18.
These underage fighters were lured into joining the NPA by false promises, according to Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, commander of the 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB).
There are an estimated 100 fighters in NPA Panay’s southern and central fronts, said Batara.
“Broken promises led some of them to surrender,” he revealed.
In July, a rebel who surrendered, Ka Aguila from Calinog, Iloilo, told the Army he was 15 years old when he was recruited to the NPA. His role was agaw armas (seizing firearms) from policemen.
He decided to surrender due to constant hunger and the failed promise of their leaders of a monthly salary of P5,000.
According to Batara, the NPA recruits youngsters mostly in schools and far-flung barangays. He urged parents to monitor the activities of their children./PN
