By Minerva Bc Newman
Cebu City – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Visayas Central Command will launch the Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) this summer to prevent the New People’s Army (NPA) from luring young recruits.
AFP Central Command public information officer Medel Aguilar confirmed observations by the Philippine National Police (PNP) that the communist rebels were stepping up efforts to attract young recruits.
“The Central Command, AFP will do its best to protect the youth” from NPA recruitment, Aguilar said.
The Youth Leadership Summits (YLS) will be launched simultaneously particularly in areas where the rebels wield a strong influence, Aguilar said.
He said youths aged 16 to 30 can join the YLS to discover themselves, their strengths and weaknesses, and their roles in the family, schools and society.
For the project, the military has partnered with local government units, National Youth Commission, PNP and other government agencies, Aguilar added.