53IB, Co Tek Chun School Commence Awareness Campaign Vs. CPP-NPA Recruitment

The Philippine Army’s 53rd Infantry “MATAPAT” Battalion (53IB) and Co Tek Chun National Trade School (CTCNTS) have concurred youth awareness as a vital tool for prevention and a long term solution against the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army- National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) insurrection and recruitment in a simple program with the faculty members and non-teaching staff held on February 24, 2021, at CTCNTS Campus in Tiguma, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur.

“We appreciate that the Academe understands the crucial role of educator in molding peacebuilders, peacemakers, and good leaders of our nation. The teachers power in building a peaceful nation and an empowered community is critical in making the youths realize the dangers of CPP-NPA recruitment,” 53IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Jo-ar Herrera said.

CTCNTS Principal Dr. Ronal O. Uy said: “We have felt and we know that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is securing us 24/7 and we are truly grateful for that. The soldiers were our students. But unfortunately, even those terrorists who fight against the government were also our students We must exert all efforts to prevent our youths to destroy our democratic government.”

In her part, Ms. Lyndelove Lagdamin, CTCNTS Guidance Counselor said: “The CPP-NPA-NDF’s doctrines and ideologies are deceitful and twisted that radicalize our youths into their miserable fold.”

“The nation right now is confronting inconceivably odds, we are blockaded by a horde of misfortunes tormenting the country: calamities and disasters, economic downturn, rampant crime, global pandemic, and the CPP-NPA-NDF. A threat so dire, it can shake the foundation of our democracy and leave in its wake the ruins of anarchy,” Ms. Lagdamin said.

“We are very fortunate to have the 53IB with their efforts in providing the necessary knowledge to address this issue and formulate a long-term solution to combat the growing insurrection plaguing our country,” Ms. Lagdamin said.

With the initiatives of the 53IB’s combat and non-combat operations in collaboration with LGUs and NGOs, the Provincial Council recently declared the Province of Zamboanga del Sur insurgency free and peaceful ready for development with the dismantling of HQ KALAW Platoon and Main Regional Guerilla Unit (MRGU) of the Western Mindanao Regional Party Committee (WMRPC) of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

“As educators, to whom learners were entrusted, we are facing a lot of challenges. We have to work double time against enemy to steal away the chances that our children, surrounded by enemy in all fronts, would not be a victim of their deceitful doctrines and prevent recruitment to fight against us, their own,” Dr. Uy said.

Lt. Col. Herrera said the Philippine Army is continuously conducting more initiatives to sustain the gains and maintain peaceful communities from the urban center to the far-flung hinterlands in the province.

During the meeting, Lt. Col. Herrera presented and provided copies of the Breaking Free (from Communist Deception) book, narrations of actual accounts of young people’s fateful journeys who were recruited and once deceived by the CPP-NPA but were able to surrender and went back to the folds of the law, for the CTCNTS Library.