SCHOOLS ‘RED TAGGED’: PNP claims two schools in Panay are rebel recruitment grounds

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Felipe V. Celino

The West Visayas State University-Calinog Campus (WVSU) in Iloilo and the Puti-an National High School (PNHS) in Cuartero, Capiz have been tagged by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as alleged recruitment grounds for the Communist Party of the Philippines – New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

PNP Directorate for Operations Colonel Randy Arceo confirmed that these two schools are hosting multiple activities that recruit students to join the armed struggle.

The WVSU-Calinog Campus and PNHS were among the 102 educational institutions in the country identified by the PNP during the Senate’s Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hearing on Tuesday, August 6.

According to Arceo, recruitment activities have been observed at these institutions since 2014.

“The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the PNP have accounted [for] a total of 168 militant students who were recruited by the communist terrorist group,” said Arceo.

He added that as a result of focused military and police operations, 36 individuals were killed during operations, 41 were arrested, and 92 others surrendered.

He added that as a result of focused military and police operations and law enforcement operations, 36 died during operations, 41 were arrested, and 92 others surrendered.

Daily Guardian has reached out to WVSU President Joselito Villaruz for comment, but he has not yet responded as of this writing.

This is not the first time WVSU has been accused as a recruitment venue for the CPP-NPA.

In October 2020, Jeffrey Celiz, who revealed himself as a former rebel and a former member of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC),  claimed that WVSU was a hotspot for rebel recruitment.

Celiz alleged that during his time at WVSU, he was recruited by CPP-NPA cadres through their legal front organizations.

Villaruz has denied Celiz’s statement, calling it an “utterly baseless allegation, which has caused unwarranted alarm and apprehension among our students and other stakeholders.

In January 2021, the NTF-ELCAC, known for its red-tagging activities, also accused WVSU of being a target for CPP-NPA radicalization and recruitment.

BASELESS ALLEGATIONS

Putian Barangay Captain Nemecio Fuyunan on Wednesday, August 7, slammed the PNP’s list, saying “the inclusion of PNHS as a recruitment ground for the CPP-NPA is fake news.”

He asserted that the list submitted by the PNP during the Senate hearing has no basis.

Fuyunan, who is also the former principal of PNHS, emphasized that PNHS is a well-regarded school in the town of Cuartero and that the village’s peace and order are well-maintained due to the presence of the military.

He clarified that PNHS has 300 students and that military forces participate in the school’s flag ceremonies.

Since his tenure as school head from 1988 to 2013, he never received any reports about rebel recruitment at the school.

Fuyunan mentioned plans to discuss the issue with PNHS Principal Hernan Duran to draft a letter refuting the serious accusation.