DILG vows to find ‘missing’ children allegedly recruited by leftist groups

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. INQUIRER.net file photo / Daphne Galvez

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) assured parents that they will search and find the reported missing minors who were allegedly recruited by left-leaning organizations.

“The Department of the Interior and Local (DILG) assures the parents whose children were recruited by Leftist organizations that they will help recover their children following the outcry of mothers of minors recruited by communist organizations during a Senate hearing,” the department said in a statement on Sunday.

This was after several mothers of student-minors became emotional during a Senate hearing after confessing that their children who allegedly joined leftist groups had been missing.

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

In the same statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año claimed that recruited minors are deployed to the mountains and they “eventually end up as casualties in the firefight between government forces and the communist rebels.”

Año also said they are currently studying the memorandum of agreement between state universities and colleges regarding increased police presence in schools and universities to deter recruitment of left-leaning organizations.

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

“Tandaan natin na ang laban na ito ay hindi lamang sa red area o mga probinsiya kundi pati dito sa white area o mga lungsod — sa ating mga eskwelahan, factories at iba pa – ito ang kanilang target samantalahin,” Año said.

Militant youth group Anakbayan has denied allegations that student-minors are missing after being recruited.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is chair of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, led the Senate inquiry into the alleged recruitment of student-minors by leftist organizations including Anakbayan and League of Filipino Students. /je

READ: Elago: Complaint vs Anakbayan meant to ‘harass, silence’ progressives