By Jason de Asis
Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from Lyceum of the East-Aurora and Aurora State College of Technology (ASCOT), 307 Aurora Ready Reserve Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army and 307th Community Defense Center (CDC) joined in separate occasions in the massive information campaign conducted by the government troops in two-day (February 16 to 17).
Lt. Col. Julito B. Recto, Jr., said that the move is in collaboration with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) region 3 and 307th CDC aimed to provide the necessary information on, and enjoin the participants to support, the national government’s whole of nation approach towards peace and development in accordance with Executive Order 70.
“Our ROTC cadets and Reservists need to understand the EO 70 so that they can help us in building diplomatic and orderly schools and communities in pursuit of peace and development,” Recto said.
NICA assistant regional director for counter intelligence Anthony Magdaraog said that the Whole-of-Nation approach is significantly leading to positive effects in the continuous collapse of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) in Aurora and the rest in Central Luzon ending armed conflicts.
The 2-day info drive, conducted on separate occasions, was part of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) program to end CTGs.
“We conducted an awareness program so that no one will be recruited by the terrorist among the youth and the elders in Aurora and the entire Central Luzon. We have teams who do the same in the local government units,” Magdaraog said.
He also discussed the Anti-Terrorism law which serves as a great help to end armed conflict. “We should not be silenced about these noxious terrorist fronts such as the party list that have stolen and destroyed our youth, our most precious, our family and loved ones. Do not vote for the party list involved in CTGs. Do not vote on the terrorist fronts party list,” he said.
CDC Director Major Ron Michael Soriao said that orientation among ROTC cadets and Reservists are needed to increase awareness on EO70 which institutionalized a “whole-of-nation approach” in attaining inclusive and sustainable peace including the importance of Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.
“Through this engagement, we will attain a peaceful, safe and thriving community in Aurora,” he said. Ka Gary, a former NPA fighter, narrates his horrible life for a lost cause in the NPA.
“I was deceived through disinformation and empty promises that made me a “fighter for a false cause” for so many years. I was brainwashed by the terrorist. Now, I am with the government and living peacefully with my family,” he said.
Ka Joy, a former Kabataan Partylist and cadre said that she was recruited by the organizers of the terrorist fronts. “Beware of these fronts devils in sheep’s clothing and be cautious of organizations. We caution the public of their lies and deceptions. Some members of the NPA infiltrated tribes, schools, churches and even our government,” Ka Joy said.
