AFP Flags Online Radicalization, Violent Extremism Risks Among Youth

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Tuesday flagged the risk of online radicalization and violent extremism among young people, saying it is coordinating with concerned government agencies to address emerging security challenges in the digital environment. AFP spokesperson Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla said the military's role goes beyond physical security as young people increasingly spend time on social media and gaming platforms. “From the side of the AFP, any national security concern, that's when we step in and coordinate with other government agencies that are in charge of this. To each his own, we perform our mandate,” she said at a press briefing. Padilla said possible online recruitment or grooming of young people into violent extremism requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach involving schools, parents, communities and law enforcement agencies. The AFP's Cyber Command and civil-military operations units are tasked with addressing emerging challenges in the digital environment, including information and cognitive warfare, according to Padilla. Padilla also emphasized the importance of critical thinking among students so they can recognize possible attempts to influence or recruit them online. “We have to make sure that our young people are also critical thinkers so that they would know if there are attempts to influence them or recruit them online,” she said. The AFP's remarks came after the September 18 shooting at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, where at least three students were killed, and eight others were injured.— MCG, GMA News