Watch your children, military tells parents

CEBU CITY – The military’s Central Command urged parents to monitor their students who may fall prey to the brainwashing and recruitment by leftist organizations and communist insurgents to join the New People’s Army or NPA and wage war to overthrow the democratic government.

Lt. Gen. Noel Clement said there were reports that members of the leftist groups are trying to lure students to join them in various anti-government crusade and propaganda and later as fighters of the NPA.

“Mao na atong mga ginikanan bantayan ilang mga anak aron di magpataka apil-apil ani nga grupoha. Eventually didto lang na sila puniton sa bukid nga naa nay bala sa ilang lawas,” Clement said, adding, some parents do not even know the activities of their students.

“It is better for the students to stay in school and study hard instead of falling to the trap set by rebels,” he said.

Clement cited some tactics used by leftist groups and NPA rebels, including street protest and rallies and advocating anti-government activities. “These are just a prelude for the organizers to prod unsuspecting students into joining the NPA or going up the mountains, in the guise of immersion activities, but will eventually pick up firearms and fight against government forces,” he said.

He warned that when government troops pursue the rebels in the hinterlands, they could no longer identify who are students and minors if fighting erupts. He also lamented that some government scholars have been brainwashed and worse, joined the NPA and eventually killed during fighting and leaving behind grieving families.

“It is ironic that while taxpayers’ money is used to pay for their studies and their board and lodging, they work to overthrow of the same government that sends them to school to become good citizens,” Clement said. (John Rey Saavedra)