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Ex-student rebel tags UP profs in CPP-NPA recruitment

By Marita Moaje

January 28, 2021, 1:01 am

<p>Former rebel Ivy Lyn Corpin alias “Ka Red” <em>(Screenshot from the National Press Club livestream)</em></p>

Former rebel Ivy Lyn Corpin alias “Ka Red” (Screenshot from the National Press Club livestream)

MANILA – A former student of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila tagged some University of the Philippines (UP) professors in the recruitment of students into the Communist Party of the Philippine-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

In a press conference with some former CPP-NPA cadres at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Ivy Lyn Corpin alias “Ka Red”, a former youth rebel, bared the recruitment activities happening inside universities.

Sa lahat ng state universities and colleges may recruitment na nangyayari sa buong bansa, pati sa mga private higher education institutions na eskwelahan ay may nagaganap na recruitment (Recruitment happens in all state universities and colleges in the country, and even in private higher education institutions),” Corpin said.

She said she was not aware of these schemes when she entered PUP in 2010.

All she was thinking of then was to focus on her studies and finish college since she’s a scholar in a state university.

She said she was keen on focusing on her studies that time and did not want to join protest actions inside the university.

On her first day in college, she said different militant groups were already conducting room-to-room campaigns in PUP to explain their organizations and advocacies.

This opened the doors for her recruitment into the Lakbay Cagayan Valley or Lakbay CV.

Lakbay CV, she said, is directly under the regional committee of the CPP-NPA that represents the youth sector inside the university.

UP profs behind recruitment

Corpin said they were also being handled by professors from UP Diliman and UP Manila.

“Ang humahawak sa’min ay mga professors ng UP Diliman at UP Manila kaya nung na-organize ako sa legal organization nung 2010, ginawa akong secretary general ng Lakas ng Kabataan para sa Lakbay CV bilang support group sa loob ng PUP (We were handled by professors from UP Diliman and Manila and when I got involved in 2010, I became secretary-general of the ‘Lakas ng Kabataan para sa Lakbay CV’ as support group inside PUP),” she said.

In July 27, 2011, she said she was recruited by another PUP student to the ‘Kabataang Makabayan’ (KM), which is an underground mass organization.

She said she was just brought inside a classroom in PUP where she was introduced to the KM that claimed to be a youth organization.

She then realized that Lakbay CV is a legal front organization that recruits students to support the armed struggle.

Unti unti, dinahan-dahan nilang sabihin sa’kin na ito ay sumusuporta sa NPA, na balang araw, darating yung panahon na makakakita tayo ng talagang naglulunsad ng armadong pakikibaka para labanan niya at durugin at ang gobyerno (They told me that it supports the NPA, and that time will come that we will personally see and meet people involved in the armed struggle to defeat the government),” she said.

That same day, after introducing her to KM, Corpin said she was brought to the Faculty Center in UP Diliman where she met a UP professor.

Corpin said the orientation was done right inside the office of the UP professor, who also told her that KM is a “secret organization” and that no one should know about it.

She said she only came to see other members during underground meetings, lightning rallies, and consultations.

Corpin said after that day, she started frequenting UP Diliman where they will stay at the Sunken Garden or in waiting sheds where they would discuss The Communist Manifesto as if they were just doing some group studies.

In April 2012, she was invited by the same UP professors to be part of the ‘Kandidatong Kasapi’ or KK that also initiated her oath.

“After nila ako pasumpain, naglatag na sila ng parang flag na maliit ng CPP tapos may orientation na nakataas kamao kami na nanunumpa doon sa flag tapos mahinang-mahina lang na kinakanta namin yung internasyunal kasi nga baka marinig nung mga katabing rooms sa faculty (After the oath they placed a small CPP flag, then we had an orientation with our fist raised. We softly sang the hymn. We were careful so nobody would hear us in the next room),” Corpin said.

She was then introduced to the ‘Batayang Kurso ng Partido’ (BKP).

From that point, Corpin said she was tasked to conduct ideological, political and organizational (IPO) works and started recruting other youths from different universities.

During the press conference, Corpin was joined by other former rebels Rey Christian “Ka Nads” Sabado, and Joy James “Ka Amihan” Saguino.

The CPP-NPA is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines. (PNA)

 

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