NPA Recruitment Resumes Under Marcos Administration, Says Bato Dela Rosa

By janimonow on August 6, 2024

The New People's Army (NPA) has resumed its active recruitment efforts under the administration of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., according to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa. Speaking during a Senate inquiry into the radicalization and recruitment of students by local communist terrorist groups, Dela Rosa noted a resurgence in NPA activities.

Senator Dela Rosa's Observations:

"Nu'ng nag-imbestiga tayo nito, medyo huminto sila sa pag-re-recruit, medyo kumalma, medyo natakot. Ngayong nagbago ang administration parang tila lumakas na naman 'yung loob nila. Nand'yan na naman sila nag-re-recruit," Dela Rosa stated, suggesting a slowdown in recruitment activities during the previous administration, which has now picked up again.

He emphasized the renewed vigor in recruitment among student organizations and the labor sector. Dela Rosa, a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), urged collective action to address this issue, expressing concern for the younger generation.

PNP Recruitment Data:

The PNP reported that from 2014 to 2024, 168 students were recruited into communist-terrorist groups:

College Students: 123
High School Students: 34
Elementary Students: 11

Of these recruits, 33 have died in police operations, 42 were arrested, and 93 have surrendered.

High Recruitment Schools:

The top schools with the highest recruitment numbers are:

Putian National High School, Cuartero, Capiz
University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman
Polytechnic University of the Philippines Manila
UP Manila
UP Tacloban

Efforts to Counter Recruitment:

National Security Council (NSC) Assistant Director General Jonathan Malaya thanked Dela Rosa for highlighting the persistent threat in educational institutions. The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) is prepared to collaborate with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Education (DepEd) to tackle recruitment issues.

Malaya called for immediate action to protect schools from these threats, urging parents, families, and school authorities to prevent children from falling into the traps of terror grooming, radicalization, and extremism.