Cebu City (5 November) -- Despite the continuing information and education campaign against the New People’s Army (NPA) as a terrorist group in various schools and universities, students are still duped to join the insurgency movement as the Armed Forces of the Philippines - Central Command (AFP-CentCom) urged parents to check the whereabouts of their children and school authorities to monitor their students.

CentCom Spokesperson Maj. Wilson Feria said that they are regularly coordinating with the different major schools and universities especially here in Cebu through the Civil Relations Service (CRS) to conduct a series of lecture against the armed rebel movement.

Feria said students, being idealistic, are likely targets of the rebel group to join their illegal cause.

The military spokesperson made the appeal amid an alleged recent encounter between the 79th Infantry Battalion and the NPA that included three students from Cebu in Sitio Pulang Yuta, Barangay Mayabon, Zamboangita, Negros Oriental last October 18.

The encounter resulted to one soldier being hurt while the three Cebu students who are allegedly NPA members were arrested.

Arrested students were Maria Carla Alvarico, 22, alias “Janet Macarasig,” a licensed nurse of Velez hospital and resident of Plaridel St., Barangay Umapad Mandaue City; Carlo Cabahug, 22, an Associate Computer Technician student of the University of San Carlos and resident of Maguikay, Mandaue City and Absin Glen Felamer, 22, alias “Bryan,” a political science student of the University of Cebu and resident of Plaridel, Guihulngan, Negros Oriental.

Alvarico is said to be the chairperson of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) who allegedly took over the position of Rachelle Mae Palang, a resident of Consolacion, Cebu, who was also killed in the battle between the AFP and the rebels in September last year in Dauin, Negros Oriental. Palang was also a nursing student of Cebu Velez College and an officer of the CEGP before her death.

Cabahug is allegedly the team leader of the organizing committee of the underground movement Sa Kabataang Makabayan while Felamer is reportedly a member of the League of Filipino Students.

A follow-up operation made by the military recovered a.38 caliber revolver, back packs, first aid kit, rope, and subversive that were allegedly owned by the NPA rebels. Blood-stained clothes were also found which made the authorities believe that there was also an injured in the rebels’ side, this is contained in a news report.

The companions of the three student-rebel suspects were able to escape on board the motorcycles.

Lt. Col. Oscar Lasangue, 3rd Civil Relation Officer of Centcom said the two alleged NPA members who were arrested came from Cebu and were in Negros Oriental to help their group in recruiting other individuals to join their activities, the same news report said.

Negros Oriental is the only remaining province in Central Visayas that is still plagued by presence of insurgents as Cebu and Bohol are now dubbed rebel-free, this is learned.

Feria said parents must be wary especially during school breaks when their children would ask permission to go on an outing or field trip because this is the time they would be tested and be on an emersion process.

Yet in spite of the latest encounter involving students, Feria said the AFP remains confident that they could squash the insurgency movement before Pres. Arroyo bows out of office.

Based on intelligence information gathered, there are about six to seven students in Cebu that are allegedly involved in the leftist movement although Feria said they would not be complacent as they go aggressive in their education campaign against the NPA and to lead students back to the right path.