3ID flags possible NPA recruitment of freshmen in tertiary schools

ILOILO City – The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) is heightening its surveillance of suspected recruitment activities by the New People’s Army (NPA) in universities and colleges across Western and Central Visayas, particularly targeting new students seen as vulnerable to radicalization.

Colonel Erwin Rommel Lamzon, 3ID spokesperson, said that while the NPA’s capability has significantly weakened following the neutralization of key leaders and the collapse of its strongholds in so-called “red areas”, efforts by militant fronts in “white areas” — including urban and academic settings — remain a concern.

“We cannot afford to be complacent. We need to remain vigilant especially with the return of students to campus, as the youth remain a primary target for NPA recruitment,” Lamzon warned.

Meanwhile, Brigadier General Nhel Richard Patricio, commander of the 301st Infantry Brigade, reported that while they have yet to receive fresh intelligence on active recruitment in schools, previous incidents suggest that the NPA may attempt to revive its propaganda efforts on campuses.

“Last year, we recovered propaganda materials in Panay Island that were clearly intended to lure young recruits,” Patricio noted. “But their efforts failed. The question now is — are they still capable of recruiting? Does anyone still believe their propaganda?”

Patricio asserted that the NPA’s ideological campaign is a “lost cause,” claiming that even the mass base — once supportive of the movement — has abandoned them. He credited the 3ID’s intensified counterinsurgency operations for dismantling multiple guerrilla units in Panay.

Both officials emphasized that the military will continue its proactive stance against communist recruitment, especially among students, to protect what they described as a key sector in preserving national stability./PN