FORT BONIFACIO, Metro Manila – Probationary 2nd Lt. Matteo Guidicelli attended a Youth Forum addressing the young generation’s role in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism (PCVE) yesterday, July 15 at Notre Dame of Jolo College, Jolo, Sulu.
Together with Army Commanding General Lt. Gen. Macairog S. Alberto and other Philippine Army officers, Guidicelli emphasized that the Army recognizes the youth, particularly the Muslim youth, as one of the country’s foundations in advancing the nation’s peace and development processes through PCVE.
“We hold a very, very strong part in our country and we can create big change in the future,” said Guidicelli as he begged to disagree with those who are afraid of the Muslims, “I want to show them how big of hearts you guys have. But we cannot do it alone, the AFP cannot do it alone,” he added.
PCVE expert and a Tausug herself, Cpt. Sherhannah Paiso, also highlighted that the youth is the most vulnerable target of violent extremism. “The youth are very emotional since they are not yet equipped with critical thinking skills. If they talk to someone who is manipulative and who tend to manipulate the verses of the Quran in their own advantage, then they might be believing that,” she said.
Paiso also shared her knowledge on PCVE. According to her, PCVE is all about prevention by recognizing the signs, particularly the push and pull factors of someone becoming a violent extremist. Discrimination and lack of economic opportunity are just some of the push factors, while the pull factors comes from these threat groups who try to entice the youth especially those under the poverty line by giving them money, firearms and false promises.
“Our intention is to stop terrorism, to stop the recruitment of our youth to join these terrorist groups and hope we will have a successful effort and we will have a good future. If we get the youth to denounce terrorism, we may put an end to terrorism,” said Alberto.#
