Army on alert for NPA recruitment in Negros colleges

As a new school year starts, the military in Negros Occidental is monitoring possible attempts by the communist New People’s Army to recruit members from colleges and universities in the province. Col. Francisco Patrimonio, commanding officer of the Army’s 303rd Infantry Brigade, said they are not discounting the possibility the NPA will particularly recruit freshmen. In a bid to counter this, Patrimonio said they are conducting symposia in different schools and universities where they emphasize the negative effects of joining the rebel forces, news site Visayan Daily Star reported last week. He also said they are conducting symposia for fourth-year high school students who are vulnerable to recruitment into the rebel organization. Meanwhile, Patrimonio reminded parents to be wary of “exposure trips" of their children to the hinterlands as this could lead to integration into the NPA. He said parents whose children are studying in Bacolod should also check who their peers are and what organizations they are into. Patrimonio said they are verifying intelligence reports that rebels from other provinces are bringing ammunition to Negros Occidental as they have already wasted bullets in mis-encounters and tactical offensives. — JE, GMA News