IT’S NOT that we have a shortage of these “useful idiots.” Our colleges and universities—particularly the University of the Philippines and some state-funded institutions—seem to churn them out regularly. But do we really have to import them as well?
For the uninitiated, a “useful idiot” is a pejorative term for someone who believes he or she is fighting for a noble cause without fully grasping the consequences—and without realizing that political actors or ideological operators are manipulating them. Historically, the term has often been used to describe non-communists susceptible to communist propaganda and psychological manipulation.
In simpler terms, this often takes the form of a “woke” social climber—someone who readily embraces a leftist narrative and frequently brands himself or herself a socialist or human-rights advocate without understanding the deeper machinery behind the causes being championed.
Classic examples of “useful idiots” would include members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines, the League of Filipino Students, and the Kabataan party-list. In Western countries, one example would be “Queers for Palestine.”
This brings us to a rather unremarkable incident in the Philippines—except that it was predictably exploited by the usual suspects: pseudo-communists desperate to inject relevance into their already moribund cause.
A joint military-police law enforcement operation led to the arrest of a wanted female New People’s Army (NPA) officer and her Filipino-American (Fil-Am) companion in Cabuyao City, Laguna.
A report from the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Division (2ID) said troops served an arrest warrant on Binay Serrano, alias Samay, who was identified as a medical and logistics officer of the NPA’s Platoon GMT. She is facing murder charges before a local court.
During the operation, authorities also apprehended Cristina Pasion, a Fil-Am who was with Serrano when the warrant was served.
The military report said Pasion, who is affiliated with Migrante International, was last reported to have been in Mindoro in December last year with fellow Fil-Am Chantal Anicoche and NPA members.
Investigators recovered from a separate encounter site a notebook containing entries allegedly linked to the group’s activities and internal discussions, as well as personal accounts of individuals staying with the armed movement, the report added.
The same report stated that Pasion remained with the group following clashes in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, on March 24 and 29.
Pasion was turned over to the Bureau of Immigration for the appropriate disposition of her alleged immigration violations.
According to Maj. Gen. Ramon Zagala, commander of the Philippine Army’s 2ID, the arrests illustrated how the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) has broadened its international networks.
“This development shows how elaborate the CPP-NPA-NDF’s international solidarity work has become. Through front organizations, personal networks and deceptive narratives, they attempt to recruit young people beyond the Philippines and draw them into a violent and futile cause,” Zagala said.
Zagala added that Pasion’s apprehension should serve as a warning to foreign nationals and young advocates who may be targeted by the group’s recruitment and propaganda efforts.
NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. had this to say: “The presence of Fil-American citizen Cristina Pasion alongside a wanted NPA personality, together with reports of her previous association with armed encounters in Mindoro, raises legitimate immigration and national security concerns.”
“This operation highlights the continuing challenge posed by groups and networks that draw foreign nationals into activities that may place them in violation of Philippine laws. Foreign nationals who enter the Philippines are expected to respect and comply with the country’s legal framework, including immigration rules and prohibitions against involvement in unlawful political or armed activities,” he added.
Rather curiously, it seems that the CPP-NPA-NDF is indeed importing “useful idiots” from the United States./PN
