By Ralph John Mijares and Edalyn Acta
TAPAZ, Capiz – Former Ilonggo activist Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz has linked three schools in the province to the New People’s Army (NPA).
Celiz recently claimed that Filamer Christian University (FCU), Colegio De La Purisima Concepcion (CPC), and Capiz State University (CapSU) Dumarao Campus were allegedly recruiting students to the rebel group.
The claim was strongly denied by the schools.
“Filamer Christian University strongly denounces the allegations that it is a recruitment ground of the CPP-NPA,” FCU said on its Facebook post.
It stressed that “FCU is an educational institution under the influence of Christian faith. It seeks to develop spiritually, intellectually, and physically whole students, by providing relevant quality education in a Christian atmosphere.”
“Although it maintains an ecumenical and non-political stance, FCU, through its faculty members, trains students to become mature and responsible citizens of the country, who, propelled by Christian love, reach out and participate in nation-building,” it added.
It also assured the community, especially the parents of its students, that “it did not, does not and will not condone any act of recruitment of its students to become members of the CPP-NPA.”
“Although FCU acknowledges that it has no control over the individual beliefs of each and every student and faculty member, it however guarantees, that as an institution, it does not provide an environment conducive to the recruitment of its students by the CPP-NPA. FCU will not promote or condone any on-campus movement to destabilize the government. It believes in the rule of law, and advocates for amicable solutions of grievances,” the school stressed.
FCU also said that it is inviting people who have personal knowledge of any past or ongoing recruitment to have a dialogue with the school officials, “so that the person responsible can be identified and the matter can be investigated and acted upon accordingly.”
“FCU also challenges Mr. Jeffrey ‘Ka Erik’ Celiz to identify under oath the faculty members and student organizations allegedly involved in the recruitment,” it said.
For CPC, it said that the school “has not and will not nor will it ever sanction such illegal activities which run contrary to the vision and mission of the college.”
“We assure the parents, benefactors, and all stakeholders that CPC will always adhere to its core values – PRO DEO ET PATRIA (for God and Country) and will never let itself be used as a tool, wittingly or unwittingly, for such nefarious activities,” it added.
The administration of CapSU Dumarao campus has also denied the allegations.*
