Cordillera universities lauded info drive of the AFP

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, August 17, 2011-School authorities of prestigious universities here in the Cordillera Region lauded the efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in the recent information drive with the 1^st year college students at Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio City and Benguet State University (BSU).     

LTC Rosendo Armas, AFP Civil Relation Service Chief said that the activity aims to increase awareness among the students on the role of the youth towards peace and development.

“The students are encouraged to report to the authorities any monitored criminal and illegal activities that may deter peace and order in their community. Our youth are the hope of the nation where they play a vital role in the development of the country,” Armas said.

He added that school authorities were alarmed by the reported infiltration of militant groups in some colleges and universities recruiting students to join protest actions, rallies in the streets and eventually go on “immersion” to remote areas where they are armed with high-powered firearms and explosives. “The parents and relatives of the students are now worried in the art of deception being carried out by these unscrupulous groups enticing them to join the armed revolution,” he said.

Agnes Lopez Reaňo, a former member of the NPA revealed that she was then a victim of these protesters, explaining that she did not want it to happen when she was still a college student.

“I am now helping and assisting the AFP in conducting information drive to enlighten the students on the form of deception that these groups employ in attracting student victims.

Reaňo said that she experienced joining rallies in the streets, mass protest actions and even in actual operations against government troops. Prior her being a full-fledged NPA member, she was indoctrinated on various books of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

She testified the purging activities of the NPA where the members whom they suspected as government spy were killed and buried in mass graves.

“These inhumane acts of the NPA had prompted me to depart from the group and decided to surrender to the AFP. I am very thankful to the AFP for being responsible and true to help former rebels like me,” Reaňo said.

“My crusade now is to continue helping the AFP in giving enlightenment to the youth sector so that their bright future will not be destroyed by these kinds of organization,” She ended. (Jason de Asis)