Bato to parents: Observe unusual activities of children who turned activists  

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has cautioned parents to observe the unusual activities of children who may have been recruited by communist organizations.

“Lahat tayo mga parents, obserbahan natin mga anak natin sa pagbabago sa kanilang mga pag-uugali kung may pagbabago sa pananaw sa kanilang buhay,” Dela Rosa said over local radio station DWIZ on Saturday when asked about his advice to parents of students-minors who turned communist rebels.

Dela Rosa, who is chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, recently led the Senate hearing into the alleged recruitment being done by leftist groups among student.

The mothers of these minors turned emotional during the Senate inquiry, noting that their children have been reportedly missing after joining leftist groups including Anakbayan and League of Filipino Students.

READ: Minors joining leftist groups worse off than drug users, parent says at Senate probe

READ: Mothers of minors recruited by leftist groups turn emotional at Senate probe

Dela Rosa then urged parents to take the necessary measures as he warned of children being allegedly brainwashed by leftist groups.

“Kung nakikita mong may pagka-pilosopo na yung anak mo, kung nagiging matigas na yung ulo, senyales yan na ito ay na-brainwash na ng kaliwa. Gumawa na kayo ng hakbang bilang parents para ito ay maiwasan na tuluyan na mawala sa inyo anak ninyo,” Dela Rosa said.

Leftist group, Anakbayan, previously denied reports of missing minors, noting that joining and leaving their organization is “voluntary.”

“There are no missing minors. All those purported to be ‘missing’ are above the age of 18. Joining Anakbayan is a purely voluntary act of every single member, done of their own free will and volition. Every member is free to join and leave at any time,” Anakbayan said in a statement on their official Facebook page on Thursday.

The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on Friday also told Dela Rosa and Philippine National Police chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde that the Philippines could face worse situation if they will halt student activism. /jpv

READ: CPP tells Bato, Albayalde: Country would be worse without student activism