NCRPO Director Vicente Danao talks to one of the self-confessed sympathizers of the NPA.
MANILA, Philippines — Laborers are easy targets of recruitment into the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army, says Police Major General Vicente Danao Jr., Director of the National Capital Region.
Some thirty self-confessed CPP-NPA sympathizers, mostly laborers, have surrendered to the NCRPO.
Danao said deception was employed to lure the laborers into joining the CPP-NPA. Danao insisted that the real motive is actually extortion.
“Itong mga ito nagpapakahirap magtrabaho ang mga ito and yet they are forced to give 10 percent of their salary every month, so ito yung kanilang milking cow,” Danao said
Their ultimate goal is the closure of companies or factories, according to Danao, because it would mean bigger cuts from the laborers.
“Pati nga ‘yung pagpapasara ng mga kumpanya eh gustong-gusto ng mga ito eh. You know why? Because they are asking 25 percent of what they will receive. Akala nila nagkapera sila initially. ‘Pag ikaw binayaran ka ng Php200,000 na separation pay, just imagine how much is 25 percent of that, per ulo ‘yun only to find out later wala ka nang trabaho,” adds Danao.
Those who surrendered were given assistance by National Task Force to end Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The recruitment from the labor sector is not just in the NCR but in other regions in the country as well, according to Danao.
The police general said that the deception has to stop and warned the labor sector not to fall for it. “Let us put a total stop, ihinto natin itong panlilinlang na ito. Tama na, sobra na. Ang kailangan natin ay totoong kapayapaan para sa tao, totoong katahimikan para sa bayan.”
Meanhile, the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines (SWEAP-NATIONAL) has formally withdrawn its affiliation with the group COURAGE.
In a two-page resolution, SWEAP National said that its affiliation with COURAGE was put in question in recent years due to the collection of fees and its utilization, as well as the activities being engaged on up to the service provided to affiliate members.
SWEAP National stated in the resolution that the issues led to the “clamor” among the members of the association including members of the National Council which then led to the discussion and evaluation of the affiliation.