MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte’s peace adviser and former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Carlito Galvez is backing the proposal to have military and police presence in schools to prevent communist recruitment and violent extremism.
“I believe the state police should not be restricted to enforce the law,” Galvez said in a press briefing in Malacañang.
“Kung magkakaroon po ng restrictions there are possibilities na magkakaroon po ng security gap,” he added.
The presence of police and military in schools was earlier proposed to prevent the recruitment of students to join the New People’s Army.
But state universities and colleges have forged an agreement that banned police and military presence in schools.
Galvez, however, said limiting security forces to certain areas would restrict their job which is “to serve and protect.”
“Any campaign that has so much restrictions, it will be disadvantageous to the security forces,” he said.
“I believe also na hayaan natin magpatrol yong ano kasi ang ano namin normally in countering terrorism and countering yong tinatawag nating violent extremism and also yong recruitment, yong deterrence e. Importante diyan yong tinatawag na visibility,” he added.
Galvez said “we have to allow” police and military in schools, citing that their absence will deprive the people of security.
“Lalo na ngayon andaming recruitments sa mga student. So meaning kung hindi natin na pe- prevent yon, yung recruitment sa mga student at yong tsaka yong nakikita natin na they will be exploited, yong kanilang adventurism at activism.”
The former military official added that the agreement to ban police and military in schools must be reviewed.
“I believe we have to look. I am not ang gagawin lang natin we have to look na there are certain conditions na we have to allow,” he said,
Galvez added that military and police presence in schools “can deter” communist recruitment. /muf