Negros Island: The top official of the Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB) in Negros Island has called on parents and community leaders to rally against the recruitment of youth into the armed struggle by the New People's Army (NPA).
According to Philippines News Agency, Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas, commander of the 302IB, made this appeal following a recent encounter on April 27 between government forces and NPA remnants in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of seven rebels, including Jhon Isidor 'Dee' Supelanas, a 26-year-old former student leader from the University of the Philippines-Cebu.
Escanillas emphasized the importance of parental vigilance over their children's school activities to prevent them from being misled by communist-terrorists. He urged unity in combating youth recruitment in urban centers and offered support for filing cases against recruiters, noting that the military cannot succeed without community assistance.
The commander highlighted the deceptive tactics used by the NPA to lure young individuals into joining their ranks, citing the death of Supelanas as a tragic consequence of such manipulation. He condemned the group's actions and called for accountability, while also respecting the Supelanas family's grief during this challenging time.
In recent years, several student leaders from Cebu have perished in encounters with government troops on Negros Island. These include Rachelle Mae Palang, a nursing graduate from Velez College, killed in 2008; Nikka De la Cruz, a journalism graduate from the University of San Jose-Recoletos, killed in 2022; and Cheene Dacalos, a former student from UP Cebu, killed in 2021. Escanillas described their deaths as a result of deception by NPA organizers and sectoral front groups operating in urban areas.
Brig. Gen. Escanillas urged young people considering the armed struggle to reconsider their choices, advocating for peaceful and positive means to address societal issues. He encouraged them to abandon violence and embrace a future of peace and progress.
