MPD chief wants new law to penalize school execs tolerating NPA recruitment

MANILA, Philippines — A police official told the Senate on Wednesday that a new law is needed to penalize school administrators found “tolerating” the New People’s Army’s (NPA) recruitment of their students.

Manila Police District (MPD) director Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao explained that there is currently no law that would hold school officials liable, criminally and administratively, for letting such actions to happen in their school.

Danao made the suggestion during the Senate inquiry into the reported disappearance of young students allegedly recruited by leftist groups.

“We know for a fact that there are some school administrators who are tolerating [recruitment] in one way or another and wala po tayong batas administratively and criminally penalizing these people even if the occurrence of such recruitment is happening right before their eyes,” Danao said.

“If I may suggest, there should be a law that should be crafted penalizing these people, criminally and administratively,” he added.

Danao also suggested that the penalties for inducing a minor to abandon his home — or violation of the Article 271 of the Revised Penal Code —  be stiffer. He noted that violation of such is currently slapped with P800.

“If we can recommend to amend that law, or that specific provision, para po magkaroon ng stiffer penalty. P800 lang ‘yung penalty kapag nag-induce ka ng minor para gumawa nitong mga bagay nito,” he said.

“Kaya napakatapang ng mga ito [NPA] na magkaroon ng recruitment kasi kahit i-induce mo, they are only paying P800,” Danao added. /jpv

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