Palace doubts police can stop communist recruitment in schools

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he believes the police could not stop communist groups from recruiting students since recruitment can be done even off campus. (File Photo: Office of the Presidential Spokesperson/Facebook)

MANILA — Malacañang cast doubt over the proposal of former national police chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa to allow policemen inside college and university campuses to prevent the recruitment of students by communist groups.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he believes the police could not stop communist groups from recruiting students since recruitment can be done even off campus.

“I wonder kung (if) the presence of police will stop the recruitment. Because recruitments are usually done in secrecy –– iyon (there), that’s my response,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday.

“Ang (The) presence ng (of) police can prevent any crime being committed inside the campus. Pero (But) recruitment… I don’t think na it will solve. Unang-una, ang (Firstly, the) recruitment doesn’t even have to be in schools,” he added.

Panelo clarified that there was nothing wrong with students’ desire to join organizations to express “legitimate” grievances against government since it’s part of freedom of speech.

However, he said it becomes wrong when they join organizations with the intention to overthrow the government.

“You have to distinguish between expressing yourself out of a legitimate concern for a grievance you perceive to be committed by local officials or national officials as against joining an organization that is allied to communist organization found to be subversive of our democratic society,” Panelo said.

“If the left-leaning organization is found to be allied with organizations that are subversive of our democratic society, then it becomes wrong and illegal,” he added.

According to Panelo, there are several organizations not allied with the leftist movement but still on the streets demonstrating.

Communist ideology is passé

Panelo said the Palace is concerned because parents are reporting about their missing children allegedly recruited by groups linked to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP).

“Siguro ang (Perhaps our the) suggestion natin sa mga (to) parents, eh to tell their children that that ideology has long passed and is passé and they should not entertain joining any kind of subversive organization for their own sake,” Panelo said.

Asked if he shares the assessment of dela Rosa and Interior Secretary Eduardo Año that there is widespread communist recruitment of students, Panelo deferred to National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Panelo said he had no knowledge if the students were joining the communist groups on their own volition, but emphasized that the youth’s idealism should do “something noble” for the country.

He also denied that the government was too focused on preventing the recruitment and gave less priority to solving the country’s social ills.

“The administration is focused on serving and protecting the people. That will always be the basis,” Panelo said.

Last year, a least 18 colleges and universities were tagged in a supposed “Red October” ouster plan against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Meanwhile, Panelo said the proposal of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to restore the law against subversion requires study.

“Let’s see, that suggestion requires study also. Hindi ko pa alam ang magiging opinyon ni Presidente doon (I don’t know what will be the opinion of the President on that). But I will ask him when we meet,” said Panelo who is also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel.