An active cluster of the National Capital Region Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict is leading the campaign of educating young Filipinos in Metro Manila regarding communist recruitment strategies, a government official said.
National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Regional Director Dennis Godfrey Gammad stated the Situational Awareness and Knowledge Management (SAKM) cluster of the anti-insurgency task force aims to counter the influence of the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army in schools and among the youth sector in the capital region.
"Our primary aim is to raise students' consciousness on the 'Arouse, Organize, Mobilize' strategy of the CPP-NPA", Gammad said at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas media forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency-National Capital Region.
The intelligence analyst clarified that communist organizations use a three-step approach in indoctrinating students: engaging them in protests, organizing them into activist collectives, and finally recruiting them to become members of armed units operating in far-flung areas.
"There are several agencies that participate in this undertaking. The Department of Education, NICA, police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency — all these clusters are in our line of endeavors", Gammad said.
The official also made a pronouncement that guerrilla fronts across the country have lessened from 87 to merely three weakened fronts.
Though armed units no longer exist in Metro Manila, Gammad stated the 'battle of narratives' with progressive organizations is ongoing.
"Hiring has mostly ceased, and when we do, we can readily balance it out because schools are already open to discussion", he said.
SAKM aims to reach young people through current methods.
"We must reach out to them. You will not find a youth today who does not have a gadget, so our approach must be at the same level as they think", Gammad explained.
He added SAKM also collaborates with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to provide training programs that make students see improved futures.
"We have a lot of programs for them [youth]. We just partner with the right agency. SAKM is just a conduit, we are just the vessel", Gammad said.
