PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde during a press briefing at NHQ, Camp Crame, Quezon City. INQUIRER PHOTO/ JAM STA ROSA
The Philippine National Police (PNP) “will engage” schools, as it plans to talk to the heads of the 18 universities to offer its help amid reports that communists are recruiting students for the so-called “Red October” ouster plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.
Earlier, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has been recruiting students from universities in Metro Manila to help in Red October.
“We will engage these universities. One way or the other, we will talk with the heads of these universities para makita at malaman natin kung ano talaga ang pwede natin maitulong (to find out and know what help we can give),” PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said in a press briefing on Thursday.
READ: AFP: Reds recruiting in 18 schools for oust-Duterte plot
‘Straighten’ teachings
According to Albayalde, the PNP could help schools brief students about what is really happening in the country. He also said the PNP can help “straighten” what communists allegedly teach students.
But asked if he will deploy police officers to guard the 18 universities tagged in Red October, Albayalde said: “Of course not.”
“Probably kung meron silang doubts, especially ‘yung mga students, kung meron silang mga kailangan matutunan, kung meron silang mga kwestyon or meron silang doubts sa kanilang mga pag-iisip, pwede natin silang bigyan ng liwanag kung ano talaga ang dapat matutunan,” he said.
(Probably, if they have doubts, especially the students, if there is something they need to learn, if they have questions or doubts in their minds, we can shed light on what they really need to learn.)
Albayalde, however, assured they will not force the schools to talk to them if they don’t want to.
He also said the CPP’s link with some students is already a “common knowledge” and that it was only publicized due to AFP’s report.
“”We will coordinate with the different heads. Kung pwede naman, kung ayaw nilang ano, hindi naman natin sila maipipilit (If it’s possible, if they don’t [want], we cannot forece them),” Albayalde said. Cathrine Gonzales, INQUIRER.net /kga