Tip of the iceberg

Last of two parts

THE most telling of the testimonies given during the recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, led by Sen. Ronald de la Rosa, came from Henyo B. Ehem, a former student of a Salugpungan school who was lured into joining the New People's Army (NPA) in 2020 after his learning center was closed down. His story is a textbook example of "terror grooming" by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP), beginning with highlighting what their geographically isolated and indigent communities sorely lack, filling the void, provoking their emotions and arming people like him to rebel against the government.