BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Militant groups here have urged military and police officials to stop calling activists, particularly students, as “terrorists,” in anticommunist forums held on campuses. Gen. Henry Doyaoen, commander of the Army’s 503rd Infantry Brigade, said, adding that these simply alerted students about armed communist recruitment in schools. He said the government was not targeting activists but had been protecting them from armed communist infiltration. Last month, some members of militant groups here sought protection from Mayor Benjamin Magalong, a former police general. “The unfounded, malicious and irresponsible accusations [that we are terrorists] pose serious threats to the lives, security and liberty of acti¬vists,” the letter said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer January 13, 2020 20:15 UTC