Police chiefs in Negros Oriental are now tasked to monitor schools and to coordinate with proper authorities in the wake of reports of alleged recruitment of young people by the New People’s Army (NPA).
Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas, regional director of the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7), said they have received reports about such recruitment activities and that “ang uban ra ba ana nanganhi sa Negros (some of them have come to Negros).”
“We have already instructed our (intelligence) people and chiefs of police to coordinate with the schools and universities and to check” if, indeed, NPA recruitment activity is taking place, he said.
Sinas also said police authorities are willing to help parents who may have complaints regarding the activities of their children, particularly in the activist movement, or if a child has gone missing.
The PRO-7 chief’s statement came at the height of the ongoing investigation into the disappearance of some students in Metro Manila after they reportedly joined militant groups such as Anakbayan.
Asked whether the PRO-7 already had a list of schools in Negros Oriental or Central Visayas that are being monitored for alleged NPA recruitment, the police general said there is none yet and that he would coordinate with the intelligence community on this. (Mary Judaline Partlow PNA via NDB)