The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday called on communist rebel groups to stop recruiting students and out-of-school youth into their movement.
“Spare our young people from your lies and deception.Huwag ninyong sirain ang kinabukasan nila. Huwag ninyo silang linlangin at idamay sa mga pakana ninyo para mag-aklas laban sa gobyerno,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement.
Año, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the youth are easy to manipulate and brainwash making them priority target recruits of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDF).
“The youth should be in school and not in the mountains,” he said.
“The youth are a brave, curious and adventurous bunch. So, the communists take advantage of these qualities along with their vulnerabilities to deceive, manipulate, and threaten them into becoming one of their own,” he added.
Año made the remark following the death of several teenaged NPA combatants in previous encounters with government forces.
The DILG chief also called on the youth not to fall for the communists’ deception and smooth talk.
“I tell you, it is a trap. They will sow hatred and lies into your heads so that you will become their vessel to unknowingly work to push their twisted ideology,” he said.
Año further stated that communist terrorist groups capitalize on issues like cost of education, neglect of the youth sector, poor internet connection, lack of career opportunities, among other socioeconomic issues to agitate the young people and indoctrinate them on the communist ideology.
“The communist terrorists poison the minds of our children by teaching them to hate the government and arming them with guns. This form of child trafficking must stop,” he said.
The post DILG to Reds: Spare the youth from lies, deception appeared first on UNTV News.