AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. The Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion conducts an awareness campaign on the recruitment efforts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army for 150 junior high school students of Cabog Integrated School in Barangay Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora on Saturday (Feb. 11, 2023). Lt. Col. Julito Recto Jr., commander of the 91IB, said the communists target the youth because of their vulnerability to false ideologies. (Courtesy of Army 91IB)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – A member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and a supporter of the rebel group surrendered to authorities in Central Luzon over the weekend.
Brig. Gen. Cesar R. Pasiwen, regional director of the Police Regional Office-Central Luzon (PRO-3), said alias Ka Rona, 50, and a resident of Barangay Mabatang, Abucay, Bataan, surrendered to the 1st Provincial Mobile Force Company.
On the other hand, the Zambales Provincial Mobile Force Company and other concerned police units facilitated the voluntary surrender of alias Bal, 70, a farmer and former Underground Mass Organization member in San Marcelino town.
Pasiwen said Ka Rona also turned in one caliber .38 revolver, one rifle grenade, and high explosive materials.
“I commend our troops for continuously conducting intensified tactical operations and community engagement activities in support of Executive Order (EO) No. 70 to convince communist terrorist members in the region to lay down their arms and live a peaceful life back into the mainstream society,” he said in a statement.
EO 70, signed in December 2018, created the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict that employs a whole-of-nation approach to end communism and institute peace-building initiatives.
Meanwhile, the intensified awareness campaign against the recruitment efforts of the CPP-NPA is gaining ground as more young people are now educated about the deceitful tactics of the insurgents.
Amando Kiban, class president of Cabog Integrated School in Barangay Matawe, Dingalan, Aurora, said the information drive being spearheaded by the Philippine Army’s 91st Infantry Battalion (91IB) in various schools in the province has widened their knowledge about the threat being posed by the terrorist organization on the future of the youth.
“We are now more aware of their move, we will never be one of their victims and they can never engage us in armed conflict against the government,” Kiban said in an interview.
School principal Marvin Sinacay said the information and awareness drive conducted on Saturday made the students more discerning about false information.
“As their principal, we will guard our students against the terrorist organization. The activity was useful, the student participants are now safe, knowledgeable, guided and more aware of the deceptive recruitment of the communist terrorist groups," he said.
The 91IB has been stepping up its information campaign to counter the recruitment efforts of the CPP-NPA, particularly among students in this province, according to Lt. Col. Julito Recto, Jr., 91IB commander.
“Our youth are the future leaders of the country and they play significant roles in our society. Someday they will be in the security forces, legislators, leaders, managers and teachers, among others. We should intensify our campaigns so that they will not be deceived by the lies and propaganda of the terrorist organizations,” he said in an interview. (PNA)
