ILOILO City – Three universities in Western Visayas expressed support to the Philippine Army’s campaign against the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA).
Tops officials of Aklan State University in Banga, Aklan; Filamer Christian University in Roxas City, Capiz; and Central Philippine University in this city expressed willingness to be tapped in any endeavor that would end the rebels’ recruitment ploy inside schools, according to Major General Eric Vinoya, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division (3ID).
These universities, he said, were among the tertiary schools identified by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) as fertile grounds of recruitment by the underground movement.
Vinoya helms the regional TF-ELCAC’s peace, law enforcement and development support cluster.
He cited recent talks with the presidents of the three universities, saying they were aware of the current effort of the CPP-NPA to infiltrate educational institutions.
The dialogue, according to Vinoya, centered on enlightening the academe on the crippling tactics of the CPP-NPA to recruit students and forge partnerships with state universities that shall protect them from the real attack on academic freedom.
“These three state universities through their presidents expressed willingness to be tapped in any endeavor that will foster growth and development not only for the institution, but also among the students,” the Army official said.
He underscored that communication is the key to understand the problem.
“I am glad that state universities are very much willing to open their doors for us to share enlightenment on the deceptive recruitment activity of the communist-terrorist group,” Vinoya said.
With the schools’ willingness to forge a partnership with the regional ELCAC, the state forces, Vinoya said, are looking forward to a more resilient and collective effort in shielding schools from the CPP-NPA and allow the institutions to mold promising young individuals into worthy citizens of this country.
Aside from the three schools, other top universities in Western Visayas tagged as breeding grounds for NPA rebels were the University of the Philippines Visayas, West Visayas State University in La Paz district and Capiz State University./PN
