KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel slammed National Youth Commission Chairman Ronald Cardema for offering a bounty to entice the youth to report alleged insurgent recruiters in their schools and communities.

Manuel said that although the reward will come from Cardema’s own personal fund, the latter made the announcement in his capacity as NYC chairman.

“Huli pa sa bibig na ginagamit pa ang NYC as a platform for their personal advocacy na pahamak sa institusyon at sa mga SK natin,” the lawmaker said.

Manuel asked if the NYC is indeed conducting monitoring activities in universities as earlier claimed by Cardema in an NTF-ELCAC press briefing. However, the NYC official denied making such a statement.

“Biglang nagka-amnesia ang NYC chairperson. Kung ngayon magsisinungaling ang ating NYC chair then that reflects on the character of the person leading the Commission,” the lawmaker said.

“Kung nagmomonitor ang NYC along with NTF-ELCAC and OVP at tapos dalawa na lang ang personnel per regional office e di mahahatak sila sa ganitong aktibidad imbes na magfocus sa dapat gawin ng NYC in the first place. We take note na wala pong confidential funds ang NYC. So paano siya makakagawa ng ganitong activities? It shows na kailangan niya magdivert ng funds from youth-oriented activities towards this monitoring,” Manuel added.