THE 62nd Infantry (Unifier) Battalion, Philippine Army in collaboration with the Department of Education District of Isabela, Negros Occidental and the local police had conducted an insurgency awareness symposium in the town last week in preparation for the opening of classes today, August 22.
In a statement Captain Mervin Rosal, Civil Military Operations Officer of the 303rd Infantry Brigade said the symposium dubbed as Youth Empowerment Symposium (YES) for Peace was attended by the teaching staff, parents, students, and other volunteer individuals and organizations during the Brigada Eskwela 2022 at Isabela National High School.
Rosal said the symposium aims to promote nationalism, educate the students on deceptive propaganda and youth infiltration through the recruitment of minors by the Communist New People’s Aemy (NPA) terrorist Group in Negros Island.
“Ka Roy”, a former rebel explained the NPA’s strategy of deceiving the youth and students by becoming their victims, their human rights violations, and the hardship he experienced within the movement that had ruined his life.
On top of that, the members of the 62nd Infantry Battalion also gave enlightenment on Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) benefits for former rebels.
The activity was followed by the PNP’s anti-illegal drugs and drug abuse information drive.
The activity is part of the school’s advocacy in supporting the government program of restoring the Citizen Army Training (CAT) and Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) in the junior high school and senior high school curriculum. (PR)