CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Parents from Malaybalay City National Science High School created the “SANDIGAN”, a core group of parents volunteered to support students’ activities for peace promotion and combat against insurgency, in a symposium held at Aglayan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon, on Thursday.
The 8th Infantry Battallion Civil Military Officer (CMO) Kenneth Cabbigat was invited as one of the key speakers of the event.
“As a resource speakers invited by the school in the symposium, the 8th Infantry Battalion, 4th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army with some Former Rebels and representatives of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, Region X (NICA 10) enlightened some 200 parents regarding the recruitment schemes of the NPAs to students inside schools. The parents, wanting their children to be safe under this scheme, created the SANDIGAN as an exclusive group under the Parents and Teachers Association to oversee this kind of activity and act as advisers to the students if ever case arises, ” he said.
“We want to protect our children on this NPA recruitment, we want them to be productive in our society that’s the reason we came up with this special group.” Said by Mr. Roger Nemenzo, the PTA president and the same time member of the Sandigan group.
Mr. John Rarogal, Secondary School Principal, expressed his gratitude to the stakeholders who gave time to the school’s request.
“I really appreciate the participation of the stakeholders to our invitation, I believe that working together and helping each other will create an enormous result especially in combatting this NPA recruitment on campus.”, he told.
Likewise, Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana, the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion encouraged the parents to send their children to military schools and get privilege and honor in serving the country.
There are stories of mothers who deeply desire for the return of their beloved children without knowing they are engaged in leftist organizations. The effort of the parents to have a core group within the campus to watch the NPA recruitment of students was substantial to the government program in ending the local communist armed conflict. (1Lt Cabbigat)
