Deaths of young NPA recruits due to leftist solons’ move — NYC

Outspoken National Youth Commission (NYC) chairman, Undersecretary Ronald Gian Carlo Cardema, blamed leaders of communist front organizations, like ACT Party-list Representative France Castro, for their active role in the countless deaths of young students and out-of-school youths recruited into the New People's Army (NPA).

"We know that they are really recruiting… How do we know that? All the proofs of the AFP and PNP through their intelligence reports are already there," Cardema told the media during a virtual press conference hosted by the Integrated Communications Office Center (ICOC), the media bureau of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) led by Director-designate Joel Sy Egco.

Cardema issued his tirades against Castro after he was asked by the host what is his comment on the latter's filing of criminal charges against former President Rodrigo Duterte for allegedly threatening to kill her.

"Alam naman natin na sila ang mga makakaliwang grupo na connected sa CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines)-NPA," Cardema said.

Cardema recalled that during a House plenary three months ago, he said his sister, Duterte Youth Party-list Rep. Dixie Mae Cardema, had challenged Castro and the two other representatives from the party-lists Gabriela and Kabataan to interpellate to the presented slides about the horrific deaths of some 50 young NPA recruits who perished in various combat operations against government troops.

"Tapos nung nagsalita ang aking kapatid na si Congresswoman Cardema sa Kongreso, pinakita niya sa plenaryo 'yung 50 napatay na kabataan as NPA at kung anong chapter nila – Kabataan partylist,Tuguegarao Chapter at Gabriela Youth Taft Chapter," Cardema said.

He said the three "Makabayan bloc" representatives clamped down when interpellation was opened.

"Why can't they ask? They know it's true. Those NPA children who died were actually their members," Cardema said.

In said plenary, Cardema said, that also present were the parents of the 50 youths who died in combat.

"There were tears in the Congress plenary, they (Makabayan bloc solons) couldn't ask questions. I know and we all know that they are the real recruiters," he reiterated.

Cardema also revealed that Vice President Sara Duterte has been constantly reminding him to steer the students toward a brighter future and fight recruitment activities by the front organizations like ACT, Gabriela, Kabataan, Bayan Muna, and Karapatan, among others.

"Ilayo natin itong mga impluwensya ng makakaliwang guro na pumupunta at nanghihikayat ng mga estudyante. Ilayo natin ang kanilang impluwensya para ang mga learners natin ay makatutok sa kanilang subjects at makatutok towards becoming responsible citizens of this country," he said.

Meanwhile, Cardema said his group might ask once more former Pres. Duterte to run for senator in 2025.

"Sinasabi nilang dating presidente 'yan, wala ng immunity 'yan, ang masabi ko sa 'yo Congresswoman Castro, ini-urge namin si dating presidente na tumakbong senador ngayong 2025," Cardema said.

"Kaya kung 'yun lang ang hinahanap mo, titulo, papatakbuhin namin yan si dating presidente bilang senador, maging number 1 senator ngayong 2025 para panghampas sa mukha mo bilang kongresista na makakaliwa. Ang nawala lang naman ay yung title niya bilang presidente pero yung pagmamahal ng AFP, PNP at ng sambayanang Pilipino kahit ngayong araw na ito, mahal na mahal siya ng sambayanang Pilipino, hindi nawawala 'yon", he added.