MANILA – The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) has warned the public against attempts of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to re-establish its influence in the Davao region by reviving the banned Salugpungan schools.
In a statement Monday, NTF-ELCAC executive director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. said the communist movement is actively campaigning to re-establish its presence in communities and is using tactics like spreading misinformation and exploiting social grievances.
"Last June, they (CPP-NPA) had a meeting where they discussed reviving radical Indigenous Peoples’ schools," Torres said.
He added that this effort is believed to be part of the communist insurgents' broader strategy to regain lost ground and rebuild their support base.
"We must be aware. We are appealing to our member agencies – the Department of (the) Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education (DepEd), among others – to be vigilant because the CPP-NPA is really planning to revive such schools," Torres warned.
The Salugpungan schools, established in 2007 as private learning institutions for indigenous learners, gained prominence in 2014 under the name "Salugpungan Ta' Tanu Igkanugon Community Learning Center, Inc."
However, the DepEd ordered in 2019 the closure of 55 Salugpungan schools in the Davao region due to various regulatory violations and allegations of their use as NPA recruitment centers.
DepEd's investigation revealed failures to comply with curriculum standards, unauthorized fundraising, unlicensed teachers and operating within ancestral domains without proper consent.
Testimonies from former students and teachers also pointed to the schools being used for training and recruitment by the NPA.
Torres also revealed the existence of "Salugpungan International," funded by foreign organizations under the guise of assisting Indigenous Peoples. He described a scheme where a significant portion of the funds is diverted to the CPP-NPA, with only a smaller portion going to the schools.
"For example, 60 percent of the funds goes to the revolution, and 40 percent goes to the school. They need to keep this going to generate resources, cadre, and exploit the IPs. Many organizations want to help, but some groups within our country are using and exploiting the IPs. We need to realize this and prevent them from reviving schools that breed NPAs," he added.
Torres was concerned about the potential for radicalization of children, particularly those enrolled in Salugpungan schools and in other remote areas.
"The CPP-NPA goes down to the level of even young children, from grade 1 to grade 6 in the Salugpungan schools, They are radicalized so that when they become teenagers, they know nothing but to go against the government," Torres said, underscoring the long-term impact of "terror grooming" that starts early and can be difficult to reverse.
"You would know, you can determine the change in attitude. There are identifiable signs. They lose their individuality. They follow the dictates of the underground movement. And sometimes when you get to that point, there is no turning back anymore," he added.
Torres called for legislation to protect the youth and children from terror grooming and urged the public to be vigilant.
"They deserve to have peaceful lives. You need to know the truth about certain groups and organizations so that you can make informed choices that won't hurt you, your families, and your communities," Torres said. (PNA)
