Police: NPA takes advantage of summer break to recruit students
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) warned anew the public against New People's Army (NPA) recruiters who are taking advantage of the summer vacation to persuade students to experience living in the mountains in the guise of field trips and free tours.
PNP deputy chief for operations Director General Fernando Mendez said the NPA is using student organizations to invite students who may later on join them in rebellion.
"Ginagawa yan ng mga organizations na dumidikit sa students na may contact sa NPA and then usually during breaks or vacations of the students 'yung mga narecruit nila, ini-invite nila for exposure sa countryside in the guise na may mga field trips lang and that is for a period of one week (Organizations that have links to the NPA are recruiting students during breaks or vacations. They invite students for exposure to the countryside in the guise of field trips, which usually last for one week)," he said.
"Then after one week, kung nagustuhan nung mga na-recruit 'yung buhay sa bundok ng mga NPA members, maiiwan sila (After one week, if the students choose to live in the mountains, they will stay)," he added.
Mendez said when a student chooses to be left in the mountains, they will undergo basic military course before becoming a full-time NPA member.
He said their role in the rebel group will depend on their choice and training, as they can be among the armed members or those who stay and take care of the camp.
"Depende kasi, mag-training ka muna hindi ba, basic military course then kung ano mapili mo na gawain sa bundok, yun ang magiging trabaho mo. Pwede ka maging armado, pwede sa kampo ka lang (They undergo basic military training and do whatever role they wish to take. They could stay in the camp or become an armed member)," he said.
The government's security forces have intensified operations against the NPA guerrillas who have been tagged as terrorists.
The intensified operations were launched after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the cancellation of peace talks between the government and the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front of the Philippines due to attacks staged by its armed group, the NPA.