Press Release
August 15, 2019

BATO: IS IT MORALLY ACCEPTABLE TO INDUCE THESE MINORS TO BECOME ARMED REBELS?

Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa vowed to protect the Filipino youth from the continuous recruitment and deception by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA), saying that the activities of the rebel group are considered immoral and patently illegal.

During the course of the hearing by the Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, which he chairs, Dela Rosa assured to protect the students from the exploitation of left-leaning school-based organizations that appear to be the legal front of the CPP-NPA. The said school organizations serve as the recruitment arm for minors students, who because of their innocence can be creatively taken advantaged of and influenced by the NPA recruiters with their mistaken beliefs.

"This is a battle between legal and illegal, a battle between moral and immoral. Is it morally acceptable to induce these minors to become armed rebels?" asked Dela Rosa.

"Being a senator of the republic, you will expect me to be biased towards the legal... hindi ako pwedeng pumanig sa illegal," he further noted.

"Basta ako doon kung saan ang legal at kung saan yung moral for the future of the Filipino youth. Kawawa ang mga batang patuloy nilang niloloko, bine-brain wash, sinisira ang kinabukasan," Dela Rosa added.

The neophyte senator also cited the revelation of former NPA armed rebels who attended the hearing as resource speakers. The rebel returnees admitted that they were all deceived and admitted involvement in illegal acts under the communist terrorist group. "Sabi nga ng former rebels na sila ay naloko at na-realize nila na mali pala yung kanilang ginagawa kaya umalis sila sa NPA," Dela Rosa explained.

Dela Rosa presided over the second public hearing under his committee to discuss the Senate Resolution No. 38 directing the conduct of an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged recruitment of minors by the leftist groups. The senator also said that they are yet to finalize if a third hearing is needed, but his committee is prepared to do their committee report.

Officials of the Department of Education, Commission on higher Education, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, Commission on Human Rights, parents of the minors and other stakeholders were present during the hearing.

News Latest News Feed