THE Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is intensifying its information dissemination in barangays as well as in schools to prevent recruitment of students by the New People’s Army (NPA).
This was stressed by Police Lieutenant Colonel Ariel Pico, spokesperson of BCPO, after two of the 14 minors, who were arrested in simultaneous raids conducted by police and military operatives in the offices of progressive groups in Bacolod City on October 31, are residents of Bacolod City.
Pico said on Thursday, the operatives led by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Western Visayas, the Philippine Army and the BCPO personnel implemented the search warrants issued by a Regional Trial Court in Quezon City in the offices of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela, and Anak Pawis in Barangay Bata, and the National Federation of Sugar Workers in Barangay 33.
He said the operation also led to the arrest of more than 60 persons.
The police also recovered 32 assorted firearms, three fragmentation grenade, and assorted live ammunition.
Those arrested were believed to be members of the so-called legal fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA (CPP-NPA).
The minors were endorsed to the Social Development Center (SDC) in Bacolod while their companions were detained at CIDG Negros Occidental Provincial Field Office for the proper disposition and filing of charges against them.
Pico said some parents of the minors already appeared at the SDC and they were surprised that their children were involved in said incident.
He said the minors, who are high school students, will undergo in intervention program with the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) then, they will be turned over to their parents.
“We are intensifying our information dissemination because two minors were already recruited here. We’ve our campaign Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo (KKDAT) and house visitation in various barangays,” he added.
Pico noted the KKDAT was established to mobilize and organize the youth sector into a potent organization and proactive partner of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Pico urged parents to monitor the activities of their children and check their group to avoid similar incidents.
Meanwhile, Michael de la Concepcion, secretary-general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, also denied that the arrested persons were affiliated with the NPA.
He said all the recovered firearms and explosives were all planted evidence.