TAPPING THE YOUTH AS PARTNERS. Students of Calbayog City National High School in Samar join a symposium against crime, drugs, and terrorism organized by the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional mobile force battalion. The strengthened advocacies against illegal drugs and terrorism aim to mobilize and organize the youth sector into a potent force organization and proactive partner of PNP. (PNA photo by Roel Amazona)
CALBAYOG CITY -- The Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Regional Mobile Force Battalion based in Samar brings the campaign against crime, drugs, and terrorism to campuses in the province with large student population.
In Calbayog City National High School, one of the most populated secondary school in Samar Island, some 5,248 students from Grades 8 to 12 have joined the Kabataan Kontra Krimen, Droga at Terorismo (youth against crime, drugs, and terrorism) symposium in five batches since last week until Wednesday.
On January 16, over 4,000 students of Northwest Samar State University attended a similar symposium spearheaded by the PNP Regional Mobile Force Battalion 803rd Maneuver Company based in Samar.
A similar gathering was also held by their company in various schools in Catarman, Northern Samar during the first week of January.
"The symposium is geared towards educating the youth about the ill effects of two major issues our society has today which are illegal drugs and terrorism," said company commander, Capt. Marval Diaz in an interview after the event in this city.
Malvar said the Calbayog City National High School was considered a priority given its large student population, making them a target of criminals, drug traffickers, and recruitment activities of the New People’s Army.
The city is close to the border of Northern Samar, a stronghold of the communist terrorist group.
"We have to tell them that they are the target for NPA recruitment and educate them on the negative effects of illegal drugs. We have to protect them, invest too much for them because they are our country's future," he added.
The campus has around 7,000 students this academic year, said Calick Arrieta, school principal.
The school official thanked the policemen for this initiative as this supports their vision to maintain a drug and crime-free school and shield students from the influence of NPA.
"These topics are so timely and relevant in the sense that our youth of today are facing a dilemma on how they can get away from these temptations," Arrieta said.
The strengthened advocacies relative to anti-illegal drugs and anti-terrorism symposium aims to mobilize and organize the youth sector into a potent force organization and proactive partner of PNP.
The holding of such symposium was first implemented in Region 11 (Davao Region) and was considered the region’s best practice in combating and shielding the youth from illegal drugs and terrorism. (PNA)
