AFP advises college students not to join militant youth organizations

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has warned students, especially those in colleges and universities, against joining militant youth organizations, particularly the League of Filipino Students (LFS), which are believed to be breeding grounds of the communist group.

The AFP-Civil Relations Service (CRS) chief Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario urged the students, especially freshmen, to be vigilant in joining school organizations.

“Students should be aware and vigilant against being recruited by groups that promote cynicism, tolerate violence and serve as recruitment grounds for rebels,” AFP-CRS chief Brig. Gen. Eduardo del Rosario said.

“…the youth are not only the most idealistic but also the most vulnerable sector in our society. Their idealism should not lead them towards hatred and violence but instead towards excellence in the pursuit of higher learning. We encourage the youth to become peaceful activists with advocacies that promote unity, shared responsibility and love of country,” Del Rosario added.

The AFP-CRS warned that students, especially college freshmen, should be careful in choosing organizations they will join, stressing the start of the school year brings out an opportunity for militant groups, particularly the LFS, to exploit various issues to attract new members.

“Groups that indoctrinate dogmatic and one-way thinking promote disillusionment, dissent and violence by deceitfully romanticizing the idea of an armed struggle. After a period of indoctrination and exposures, members of militant youth groups who have the potential are enticed and deceived to take arms and eventually join the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army,” Del Rosario said.

According to Del Rosario, deeper involvement with militant groups only diverts the attention and focus of the students from the school activities and families and instead misled to life of hatred and dissent.

“Based on our experience as soldiers, most NPA fighters are students who have left their studies and have thrown away everything to join the rebels. We are sad to see young people perpetrate violence, inflict suffering on the people and end up as victims themselves,” Del Rosario said.

This was the first time that the AFP directly mentioned LFS as among the militant youth groups that is linked to the recruitment of the communist group.

The military had previously tagged Bayan Muna and Karapatan as among the groups linked to the communist organization. –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune