A group composed of former rebels and parents of students allegedly recruited into armed groups staged a protest outside the University of the Philippines Diliman campus on Labor Day, condemning the Communist Party of the Philippines–New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) and calling for stronger protection of students.
According to a report by RH Val Gonzales on MBC TV Network News, the protesters carried placards and banners denouncing the CPP-NPA, with messages such as “NPA salot sa lipunan” and “NPA hindi kinabukasan, kamatayan ang hatid,” expressing their opposition to alleged recruitment activities within schools and universities.
According to the group, the communist insurgency continues to harm the future of young people by allegedly drawing students into armed struggle.
They also criticized the Kabataan Partylist, accusing it of misleading students and contributing to their alleged "recruitment" into underground movements.
Some participants called for accountability over the alleged involvement of certain groups in the incident involving what they referred to as the “Toboso 19,” urging authorities to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
Parents present at the rally claimed that educational institutions are being used as venues to influence and recruit students into armed conflict, resulting in loss of life and disrupted futures.
Former members of the NPA who joined the protest also shared personal accounts of alleged recruitment.
LOOK: Mga ex-rebel at mga magulang ng mga estudyanteng 'ni-recruit na magrebelde,' nagprotesta sa labas ng UP Diliman; CPP-NPA at Kabataan Party-list, binatikos | @dzrh5 Val Gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/aCfFHh8XEF
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) May 1, 2026
The protesters called on the government, UP administration, and the public to remain vigilant against alleged recruitment activities, emphasizing the need to protect students from being drawn into armed movements.
The protest comes in the wake of a reported military operation in Toboso, Negros Occidental, on April 19, where 19 individuals were killed during an encounter between government forces and alleged members of the NPA. The fatalities reportedly included two UP students, two minors, two American nationals, and one journalist.
According to the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) and the military, those killed were identified as NPA members. The claim has been disputed by various groups.
The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) has launched an investigation into the incident, while lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives have filed a resolution seeking a separate inquiry into the alleged mass killing.
