A former communist rebel is warning Filipino youth to be vigilant against deceptive recruitment tactics used by insurgent groups that target educational institutions as entry points for their armed struggle.

“Do not be deceived by the sweet promises of groups pretending to have good intentions. Often, their true intentions are related to self-interest, and what you exchange for this is your future,” said Fhobie Matias, who previously fought with the New People’s Army (NPA), the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Speaking at a community awareness event in Roxas, Oriental Mindoro province, Matias detailed her painful journey from student activist to armed insurgent, revealing a systematic pipeline from campus organizations to mountain guerrilla units.

“These organizations develop young students to become party members and eventually send them to the mountains,” Matias revealed.

“When I was being developed as a party member, we were given extensive studies about societal issues and why taking up arms was necessary,” she noted.

The NPA, active since 1969, has been documented exploiting socioeconomic vulnerabilities and campus issues to radicalize students.

According to United Nations reports, at least 30 Filipino children were recruited by rebel groups in 2017, with six specifically recruited by the NPA.

Government officials, including the Department of Interior and Local Government, have condemned the practice as a form of child trafficking, noting that the insurgents target vulnerable youth, including children of military and police officers.

Matias described being initially deployed from Batangas province to Roxas town in Oriental Mindoro, where she organized farmers under false pretenses.

“They said at first we would just campaign for farmers, but suddenly there were weapons,” she recounted.

She refuted claims that she had been abducted by the military, clarifying she had joined the rebels voluntarily before becoming disillusioned with their methods and promises.

“I was once a rebel who carried weapons, but now I’ve realized there’s a better life waiting for me — a life of peace and hope,” she added.

The Philippine Army has criticized the communist insurgents for exploiting youth by infiltrating schools and indoctrinating them with ideologies aimed at overthrowing the government.

Republic Act 11188 specifically prohibits the recruitment of minors into armed conflict.

The Philippine Army continues to urge parents and educators to carefully scrutinize campus organizations, noting that what begins as social advocacy often serves as a cover for insurgent recruitment activities that ultimately endanger young people’s futures.