EDITORIAL - Confused rock

After the Department of Education lost its Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF), Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa urged teachers to watch out for the possible “boost in the recruitment of insurgents” in schools.

He also said if he had his way he would have wanted CIF for the Department of Education.

"Ang appeal ko sa kanila is that even without the confidential funds, sana siguruhin natin na wala nang mga bata na ma-recruit ng CPP-NPA doon sa kabundukan na makipaglaban sa ating gobyerno at mamatay... Itong Salugpungan schools ng CPP-NPA-NDF ay ito 'yung nag-sprout dahil sa kawalan ng DepEd sa kanilang area. So sana lahat ng barangays, mabigyan na natin ng proper educational institution, particularly sa Basic Education, dahil susulpot nanaman itong Salugpungan schools at kawawa ang ating mga bata," the senator said.

The senator confuses several things.

First, the schools aren’t the forefront of recruitment for the communist movement. The ripe grounds are those areas that suffer for lack of or aren’t reached by basic services, areas where social injustice is rampant, or areas that are ruled by powers that usurp the role of the local and national government.

Second, it isn’t the concern of DepEd to stem the rise of Communism. Its focus should be on improving our educational system which is fast becoming left behind compared to the rest of the world.

This is one reason why it lost its CIF in the first place --a civilian agency has no business conducting espionage or dabbling in matters of national security.

We should also not forget that Senator Dela Rosa is one of those who cannot tell between who is a communist and who is merely an activist. For him they are the same and to confuse the two is very dangerous, especially for one such as him who has a lot of power and influence and for those who just want meaningful reforms from the government and not to overthrow it entirely.

His passion against the communist insurgents who seek to overthrow the government is commendable, but Senator dela Rosa should know where the enemies are and where they aren’t.

After the Department of Education lost its Confidential and Intelligence Funds (CIF), Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa urged teachers to watch out for the possible “boost in the recruitment of insurgents” in schools.

He also said if he had his way he would have wanted CIF for the Department of Education.

"Ang appeal ko sa kanila is that even without the confidential funds, sana siguruhin natin na wala nang mga bata na ma-recruit ng CPP-NPA doon sa kabundukan na makipaglaban sa ating gobyerno at mamatay... Itong Salugpungan schools ng CPP-NPA-NDF ay ito 'yung nag-sprout dahil sa kawalan ng DepEd sa kanilang area. So sana lahat ng barangays, mabigyan na natin ng proper educational institution, particularly sa Basic Education, dahil susulpot nanaman itong Salugpungan schools at kawawa ang ating mga bata," the senator said.

The senator confuses several things.

First, the schools aren’t the forefront of recruitment for the communist movement. The ripe grounds are those areas that suffer for lack of or aren’t reached by basic services, areas where social injustice is rampant, or areas that are ruled by powers that usurp the role of the local and national government.

Second, it isn’t the concern of DepEd to stem the rise of Communism. Its focus should be on improving our educational system which is fast becoming left behind compared to the rest of the world.

This is one reason why it lost its CIF in the first place --a civilian agency has no business conducting espionage or dabbling in matters of national security.

We should also not forget that Senator Dela Rosa is one of those who cannot tell between who is a communist and who is merely an activist. For him they are the same and to confuse the two is very dangerous, especially for one such as him who has a lot of power and influence and for those who just want meaningful reforms from the government and not to overthrow it entirely.

His passion against the communist insurgents who seek to overthrow the government is commendable, but Senator dela Rosa should know where the enemies are and where they aren’t.