Manila, May 2 -- The top official of the Philippine Army's 302nd Infantry Brigade (IB) in Negros Island enjoined parents and those engaging the youth to support the campaign against the recruitment of students to join the armed struggle.

302IB commander Brig. Gen. Joey Escanillas issued the call on Friday in the wake of the April 27 encounter between government troops and remnants of the New People's Army (NPA) in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, which claimed the lives of seven rebels, among them Jhon Isidor "Dee" Supelanas, 26, a former student leader at University of the Philippines-Cebu.

In a statement, Escanillas said parents need to monitor their children's activities in schools as they may have already been deceived by communi...