ADVERTISEMENTAccording to Año, communist rebels are out to deceive the youth and other vulnerable sectors to join them in “trampling on the country’s democracy and overthrowing duly-constituted authorities.”“Independence does not only mean liberation from external or foreign manipulation. For the last 50 years, communist terrorist groups have been pounding on the democratic pillars and integrity of the Philippine State and have caused the death of countless innocent civilians and the promising youth,” Año said in a statement. He urged that no one should be “enslaved” and “blinded” by the CPP as well as its affiliate groups and individuals. They only conceal their ultimate goal of overthrowing the current democratic representative government to an authoritarian communist rule,” said Año. Año likewise encouraged the IPs to resist recruitment from rebels and report to authorities if they would encounter any harassment or intimidation.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 12, 2019 02:03 UTC