Youth group hits campus ‘spies’

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — A group of youth activists raised alarm over what it said was the use by the military of students for a spy network targeting militant groups in school campuses, an accusation flatly denied by military officials.

Kristine Cabardo, chair of League of Filipino Students (LFS) in northern Mindanao, said the military had formed what she termed as Student Intelligence Network (SIN) to spy on militant groups on campus.

But 1st Lt. Teresita Ingente, spokesperson of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID) here, said LFS was making a false claim and SIN was nonexistent.

By invitation only

Cabardo cited instances when the military had deployed armed soldiers to campuses in Mindanao, which Ingente again denied.

Ingente said soldiers would enter campuses only if invited to events, like “Brigada Eskwela,” or activities for school preparations that included cleaning up or painting classrooms.

Cabardo said some students in Mindanao State University (MSU) Iligan Institute of Technology admitted they were part of SIN.

She said security officers of some schools would cite the military when reprimanding members of militant groups on campus.

Propaganda

At the MSU in Marawi, soldiers conducted patrols on campus, Cabardo said.

Ingente said LFS’ claims were mere propaganda but admitted that the military was investigating reports that campuses had become recruitment grounds for communist rebels.

“That’s why we’re asking school administrators and principals to open their eyes,” Ingente said.

Maj. Gen. Ronald Villanueva, 4th ID commander, said the military was encouraging not only school officials, but parents, too, to be vigilant. —JIGGER JERUSALEM