National Youth Commission Chairperson Ronald Cardema (File photo)
MANILA – The National Youth Commission (NYC) warned on Wednesday young Filipinos not to be persuaded by a new recruitment campaign video produced and being spread by the New People's Army (NPA) since last week.
During a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, NYC Chairperson Ronald Cardema showed the video which he cited to be alarming as it targets to recruit 18 years old and below.
"Talagang tina-target ng NPA ngayon yung recruitment ng kabataan. Ginagawa pa nilang very trendy [ang video]. Nagjo-joke pa kayo kunwari sa bundok patungkol sa recruitment para makuha niyo yung trend sa kabataang Pilipino (The youth is being targeted by the NPA nowadays. They made the video very trendy. They put jokes about the recruitment to go with the current trend among Filipino youth)," Cardema said.
"Kapag hindi tayo nagsalita ngayon at nanindigan, nagpakita lang tayo na wala tayong pakialam sa mga ganitong klaseng video at recruitment, ipinapasa natin sa susunod na henerasyon ng mga Pilipino itong recruitment na ito. Baka ma-recruit sila nang hindi nila alam (If we don't talk about it and stand up, show that we don't care about this video and recruitment, we are passing this recruitment to the next generation of Filipinos. They might be recruited without knowing it)," he added.
After watching the video, panel chairperson Senator Ronald dela Rosa immediately requested the Anti-Cybercrime Group of the Philippine National Police to trace the source of the video.
"Nakita ninyo yung video kanina? You direct your anti-cybercrime group na i-trace yung pinaka-origin nitong video na ito (You saw the video? You direct your Anti-Cybercrime Group to trace the origin of the video) because this is punishable under Section 10 of the Anti-Terrorism Act," dela Rosa said, suggesting to include sharers of the video who have the intent to recruit.
The motu propio public hearing and investigation by the panel is in response to Senate Resolution No. 863 which seeks to look into the "continuous radicalization and recruitment of students in educational institutions to the local communist terrorist groups" which dela Rosa also filed. (PNA)
