Military assails Reds’ renewed recruitment

THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has taken to task the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for ordering its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), to step up recruitment, saying the move was in conflict with the next round of peace negotiations in Oslo, Norway.

“This [recruitment] is a sad development, granting this is truly their real intent. Why? Because it is an indication of an expansion program that ironically runs counter to the essence of the ongoing peace talks,” Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr., AFP spokesman, said.