NCRPO to meet with CHED over ‘CPP recruitment’ in schools

MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is set to meet with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in connection with the alleged recruitment activities of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) in the 18 universities and colleges in Metro Manila.

“Ang aking gagawin ay makipag-coordinate sa leadership ng Commission on Higher Education upang humingi ng konsultasyon kung ano ang mga hakbangan na dapat gawin ukol dito (I will coordinate with the Commission on Higher Education to consult them on what measures to be undertaken regarding this matter),” NCRPO head, Police Director Guillermo Eleazar, said in a radio interview Saturday.

While stressing that there is nothing new about recruitment by leftist groups in schools, Eleazar said they are continuously coordinating with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to validate the information.

“There is a term na infiltration. It connotes hindi po yan ina-allow or merong kaparaanan na gawin yun na hindi nalalaman ng management so yun po ang ating mga tinitingnan. (that it is not allowed or it is done in such a way which will not be known by the management of the schools and that is what we are looking at),” Eleazar said.

He added that this does not necessarily mean that police officers will enter schools’ premises, unless students commit offenses.

“Kung ito o nagba-violate ng mga batas (If they are violating laws) like inciting rebellion o persecution, ibang usapan na po ‘yon (that is another story),” he added.

“While it is true na gina-guarantee natin yung civil rights ng mga estudyante at mga schools persons, sa atin naman po ang pulis lagi lamang sa mga ebidensya. Hindi naman sinasabi natin na once itong mga sumasamang ito sa mga rally ito po ay mga recruits nila, not necessarily na ganun (that we guarantee upholding the civil rights of the students and persons from the schools, we at the police force always base our findings on evidence. It does not necessarily mean that those who join rallies are already considered recruits),” Eleazar said. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)