SENATOR Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa asked the Philippine National Police to investigate the supposed promotional video that encourages the youth to join the New People’s Army.

This was after National Youth Commission Chairman Ronald Cardema presented a more than one-minute video encouraging those 18 years old and above, who are healthy and ready to serve the country to join the rebel group.

“Kami naalarma sa NYC. Talagang tina-target ng NPA ngayon. Ginagawa pa nilang trendy, para makuha ang kabataang Pilipino,” Cardema said during the hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs.

Alarmed by this information, Dela Rosa asked both the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group and the Anti-Terrorism Council to find out the people behind this video.

“I-trace yung pinaka-origin ng video na ito because this is punishable under Section 10 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. Yung recruitment particularly yung pagpapalabas ng video ng pagre-recruit… yung mga nagsi-share nitong video in the spirit of recruitment, makasuhan natin,” Dela Rosa said.

The senator added that teachers behind these recruitment activities must also be charged.

“Alam natin maraming mga teachers na yan, ganyan ang ginagawa… yung mga maestro, etc tatamaan yan dito sa Anti-Terrorism Act,” the senator stressed.

Dela Rosa also called on school officials to help in strengthening student councils to thwart any recruitment attempt by the rebels.

“‘Yung Student Affairs Offices, sana tumapang sila… if they feel threatened… they have to seek the assistance of the police para hindi sila ma-threaten kasi mahirap yung pabayaan natin ito,” the senator said.

Both DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education meantime expressed their support for strengthening laws protecting schools and students.