Rebels recruiting minors from mountain barangays

After Governor Gwen Garcia declared an all-out-war against the insurgency in Cebu, the New People's Army was reported to be strengthening its forces by recruiting new members, most of them juveniles, from the mountain barangays of mid-northern part of the province.

The mid-north Cebu is composed of Danao City and the towns of Carmen, Catmon, Sogod, Tabuelan, Tuburan, Asturias and Balamban.

Cebu Provincial Police director, S/Supt. Vicente Loot, said the police are now checking on reported recruitment activities of the rebels, which the Regional Peace and Order Council disclosed during its meeting in Negros Oriental this month.

Negros Oriental Provincial Police director Melvin Buenafe said these recruitment activities might have something to do with the ASEAN Summit in Cebu this December.

Carmen town police chief, Inspector Carlos Reyes, reported to Loot that his station received reports of rebel recruitment in the mountain barangays of the town, and these are being verified in coordination with barangay and town officials there.

The Regional Mobile Group chief, S/Supt. Jesus Gacquing said his men have been closely monitoring the activities of the NPA's based in the southern towns of Cebu.

Gacquing said these rebels have been providing livelihood projects, such as pig dispersal, to the people in an apparent attempt to win these people to the rebels' side. - Jose P. Sollano