Dela Rosa says CPP recruiters target ‘smart, shy, inflamed’ students

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa. Bibo Nueva España / Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Are you intelligent, shy, and somehow angry at the world? Be warned, as you could be an easy target for recruitment by local communist groups, according to Sen. Bato dela Rosa, quoting information from former rebels.

At the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs’ hearing Tuesday, panel head dela Rosa said there is a need for guidance counselors to properly profile their students, noting that certain characteristics are prone to recruitment by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

“Alam ninyo based doon sa sinasabi ng mga nag-surrender na mga recruiter na mga New People’s Army (NPA), if you profile your students, dapat kayong mga guidance counselor ng eskwelahan magaling din na profiler. I-profile ninyo ang mga estudyante ninyo, ‘pag nakita ninyo ang isang estudyante na medyo matalino, medyo tahimik tapos medyo parang galit sa mundo, ‘yan ang napakadaling i-recruit doon na magiging extremist,” he said.

(You know what, based on those recruiters of the NPA who have surrendered, if you profile your students, you guidance counselors should be good profilers. Profile your students and if you see that they are somehow intelligent, shy, and somehow angry at the world, those are the type of people who are easily recruited to be extremist.)

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According to the senator, once a student is recruited to the CPP, he or she will carry firearms and join the NPA.

“So dapat sana ‘yung mga counselor ninyo sa campus counselor  i-identify agad ‘yung mga estudyante na ito at kausapin na agad, bigyan ng right counseling, dahil ang dali itong i-recruit,” said dela Rosa.

(That’s why guidance counselors in campuses should identify their students and immediately talk to them. Give them proper counseling because it’s easy for them to get recruited.)

The former chief of the Philippine National Police said recruiters in campuses are skilled when it comes to “picking ripe and low-hanging fruits that may be harvested soon.”

Prior to dela Rosa’s remarks, PNP’s Directorate for Operations Colonel Randy Arceo said CPP’s recruitment activities have been detected in 102 educational institutions nationwide since 2014.

Arceo said in the same hearing that combined efforts of the PNP and Armed Forces of the Philippines have so far accounted for a total of 168 militant students who were allegedly recruited by the CPP.

“As a result of focused military and police operations and law enforcement operations, 36 died during operations, 41 arrested, and 92 others surrendered,” he also disclosed.