Baguio cops keep eye on rebel recruitment in universities

BAGUIO CITY –– Police here on Thursday said they are monitoring the possible recruitment activities being done in universities by some rebel groups.

Police Col. Allen Rae Co, Baguio police chief, said their surveillance aims to suppress movements of the New People’s Army (NPA) in the city.

The city council recently declared red groups as persona non grata.

The declaration is seen to prevent action and clashes from areas of concern to spill over in the city, which is considered a white area where no clashes happen.

In a press briefing, Co said they have proof that rebel groups are recruiting university students, but did not reveal which institutions are involved.

He said Red groups recruit individuals through “legal fronts.”

“They will be given some work in that legal front until such time they reach the center of CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA,” Co said.

Peter Rey Bautista, Regional Advisory Council chair, said a city police station rescued two female students from being recruited by a rebel group.

Baguio city is among the 43 towns and cities in the region that declared communist rebels persona non grata.

Edited by Lzb