The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) directly addressed the youth yesterday not to be seduced by promises of an ideal society by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) following the death of a University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB) student in an encounter between the rebels and military forces.

“Another student has fallen prey to the deceitful scheme of the terrorist CPP-NPA. Under the guise of a so-called immersion, idealistic young men and women, mostly students, were handed poisoned chalices by rebel cadres,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said.

A UPLB veterinary student, allegedly recruited by the rebels, was killed in the clash.

In a statement, Arevalo said the military and its chief of staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., strongly condemned the “evil design” of the CPP-NPA, adding it only misleads the youth.

“Time and again, Madrigal admonishes the youth — especially students and young professionals — to be very discerning about people or groups that approach them,” he said.

“After being initially led to the countryside allegedly to experience life with the people, these young men and women were constantly brainwashed about perceived social ills, their emotions aroused, until they are ripe for the terrorist movement. They were recruited, taught to wield arms and eventually meet their untimely and unfortunate death fighting government security forces,” he added.

“The NPA is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. The youth should not allow themselves to be misled by nice sweet-talking individuals who’ll lead them to perdition,” he explained.

The slain veterinary medicine student, John Carlo Capistrano Alberto, reportedly joined the NPA in January 2019 Loco parentis

And while commiserating with the parents of the slain student and many others led astray by the rebels, Arevalo urged school officials to take full responsibility and guide children while in schools.

“We therefore appeal to the parents and to the school officials who should take full responsibility and custody over children while in schools under the doctrine of loco parentis to guide their children or students,” he said.

The doctrine of loco parentis refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to perform the functions and responsibilities of a parent.

The AFP spokesman also reminded parents and school officials to be mindful of their children’s whereabouts at all times aside from being aware of the organizations they are joining.

“The NPA terrorists continue to lurk in our schools and communities spying for new recruits to fill the dwindling number of their cadres. Be on the lookout. Report the presences of these unscrupulous individuals to your AFP and allow us to save your children/students,” Arevalo said.

Meanwhile, AFP public affairs office chief Col. Noel Detoyato said the entire nation, not only the military and government, must condemn the efforts of the communist rebels to infiltrate the youth and student sectors as part of their initiative to recruit more members to their cause.

“(They engage in) infiltration of the youth and student sector and exploiting their vulnerabilities. The case of the UPLB student is another proof of student sector exploitation of the CPP-NPA-NDF (National Democratic Front),” he said.

Detoyato added such actions by the NPA should be strongly condemned by all Filipinos as the youth are the country’s future.

“The schools are supposed to be places where patriotism, discipline and nation-building are being inculcated in our children but the CPP-NPA-NDF (are) exploit(ing) these places,” he said.

A social media post revealed the slain veterinary medicine student, John Carlo Capistrano Alberto, reportedly joined the NPA in January 2019, according to fellow students.

The encounter happened in Sitio Pinamintian, Barangay San Buenaventura, Luisiana, Laguna around 9 a.m., according to the blog citing Army 2nd Infantry Division information officer Capt. Patrick Jay Retumban.

Two woman NPA members were also wounded in the encounter.

The military seized from the NPA improvised explosives, detonator, tents, eight mobile phones and a computer tablet.

In November 2017, another UP student, Josephine Lapira, allegedly a member of women’s left-leaning group Gabriela, was also killed in an encounter.