Army warns on communists’ recruitment in schools, colleges

The Philippine Army yesterday warned that the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), have intensified their recruitment activities in schools and universities.

Lt Catherine Hapin, spokeswoman of the seventh Infantry Division (ID), said the two groups have stepped up their activities to lure students to join the movement because “they are idealistic, vulnerable to radicalism and easy to train.”

Hapin urged parents to be more vigilant and monitor their children’s whereabouts. She said parents should be “constantly informed about the activities 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,” she said in a statement.

“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,” Hapin added. The 7th ID said a number of students who joined the CPP’s “immersion activities” in provinces have been killed. Hapin cited the cases of John Paul Calica, a student of the Asian Institute for Computer Studies, and Guiller Martin Cadano of the University of the Philippines in Clark, who died in an encounter with troops last year in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija. “Their family had no idea what they were doing,” the official said.

The latest victim, Hapin said, was Gerald Salonga, a psychology student in UP Clark, who was killed in an encounter with government troops in Aurora province in September this year.

Maj. Gen. Felimon Santos Jr, 7th ID commander, said these students “should have had a bright future and become productive members of the society had they not been influenced and recruited by the NPA.”

The military earlier identified several schools where communists have conducted recruitment activities. These include the University of the Philippines in Diliman and Manila, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas, Adamson University, Far Eastern University, Eulogio “Amang” Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology, Emilio Aguinaldo College, University of the East Recto and Caloocan campuses, San Beda University, Lyceum of the Philippines University, University of Makati, University of Caloocan City, University of Manila and Philippine Normal University. Most of the mentioned schools have denied the allegations, saying they were not aware of any recruitment activity in their campuses.

The military had said students are being recruited by the CPP and the NPA for the alleged “Red October” plot whose aim was to remove President Rodrigo Duterte from office.

The CPP had denied the allegations.

Last week, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the CPP abandoned its “Red October” plot after it was “exposed” by the military.