Nationwide Effort Launched to Shield Youth from 'Terror-Grooming'

November 14, 2024

The Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations (COCOPEA) has joined forces with the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to protect Filipino youth from the dangers of terror-grooming and violent extremism in pursuit of genuine peace and unity.

COCOPEA President Rev. Father Albert Delvo, during a press conference organized by the NTF-ELCAC, maintained that the 1,500-member group of educational institutions stressed the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders in fostering peace and development.

"We are all available to engage groups, including NTF-ELCAC, with the noble intention of advancing and realizing true peace and good unity," Fr. Delvo said.

In the same presser, Dr. Dennis Coronacion, Chairperson of the University of Santo Tomas’ Political Science Department, emphasized the need for a holistic approach to safeguard youth from extremist recruitment.

"It takes the entire community to prevent the recruitment process," Coronacion said, advocating for proactive engagement beyond banning extremist groups.

Coronacion highlighted the value of educating students about extremist ideologies and fostering critical thinking to resist manipulation. He also pointed to COCOPEA’s partnership with NTF-ELCAC as a model for community-driven prevention efforts.

During a November 8 Executive Committee meeting in Malacañang, NTF-ELCAC Executive Director Undersecretary Ernesto Torres Jr. announced COCOPEA’s appointment as a private sector representative.

“This collaboration will significantly enhance our information campaigns against terror grooming by groups like the CPP-NPA-NDF, which is designated as a terrorist organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act,” Torres said.

COCOPEA and the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP) together represent around 1,500 private Catholic schools nationwide, extending the partnership’s reach.

The alliance’s goals were further underscored at the 1st Colloquium on the Prevention of Terror Grooming and Violent Extremism, held on November 11 at Novotel Manila. The event brought together academics, policymakers, students, and former rebels to discuss strategies for building community resilience.

The colloquium, themed “Unlocking the Phenomenon of Violent Extremism and Terror Grooming: The Philippine Context,” aims to guide future policies in shielding vulnerable communities and securing the nation’s future.

NTF-ELCAC MEDIA BUREAU

Ref: Dr. Joel M. Sy Egco, PhD, MPSA

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