“Every form of addiction is bad,
no matter whether the narcotic
be alcohol, morphine or idealism.”
— Carl G. Jung
In the pursuit of a fulfilling life, it is unavoidable to come across unfavorable circumstances that can result in traumatic experiences. In the case of the friends rescued, on their journey to alleviate the overwhelming terror and painful memories and meet their basic biological and psychological needs, they come across with seemingly good people who bring promises of a better life.
When we hear sweet words, we may easily believe them to be genuine, but they are actually deceptive like ravening wolves disguised as meek sheeps. For the vulnerable but empathetic souls who are attempting to develop coping mechanisms in the face of such fears of nothingness and hopelessness, operating in survival mode becomes necessary. But happiness is just a fantasy. What happened, why did it happen, and how did it happen?
A mother-of-one, Nina hails from a far-flung village in San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur. As she told her story, she belongs to a low-income family. Despite being poor when she was a child, Nina did not consider it a hindrance to dream for a bright future. She disclosed that she was always diligent with her house chores to please her parents. To my wonder, tears began to flow as she progressed with her story. Her countenance showed tears of grief, sadness, and anger. I continued asking questions to find out what those tears meant for her. “I would never forget how my parents treated me unfairly,” she reacted. “I always heard from them that my other siblings were their favorite in the family,” she said.
When Nina was growing up, her parents always compared her to other children in their neighborhood. To cope with the painful and jealous feelings that hounded her to bed at night, she had to learn to suppress her feelings of rage and sadness at being so alienated from her parents. Having felt neglected, Nina admitted that she had given up hope in her abilities because of the feeling of neglect by her parents and the neighborhood as well. Aggravating her hurt feelings, her sister even made fun of her mistakes, and her parents always favored her bully sister. She was compelled to keep all of her resentments in solitude. Her parents did not support her education in favor of her sister because her parents had never acknowledged her worth. She could not understand why her sister continued to high school while her parents said they could no longer afford it. She felt mistreated because of this feeling of inequality.
Unfortunate news arrived one early morning: her sister – her mother’s favorite child – had become pregnant, causing her parents great distress. Nina’s parents did not want her to make the same mistakes as her older sister, who dropped out of high school before she was even in eighth grade. She felt she was held responsible for her sister’s failure, Nina felt the weight of the situation on her shoulders. “Sometimes my father would beat me after I had walked two hours to school and returned home without ever letting me know what the problem was,” Nina said. As a result of her parents’ displaced frustration and anger toward her sister, she would have to deal with her parents’ sarcastic remarks. They even encouraged Nina to get married to drive her away. “But I must be respectful and kind to my family members. I endured all the criticisms because I was determined to learn, complete my education, and improve the conditions of my poor family. All I wanted from them was to recognize and appreciate my abilities,” Nina cried. Still, she was bent on completing her education. At 15, she decided to hit the road to look for employment and support herself because she was fed up with all the hardships and heartaches with her family. This time, the CPP-NPA-NDF was the only bright spot in an otherwise hopeless situation. The municipaliy of San Miguel was a long-time guerilla base of the CPP-NPA-NDF since the 1970s. Many young people were lured and became full-time CPP-NPA-NDF members until the 53IB and its stakeholders dismantled all the CTGs in the entire province of Zamboanga del Sur. The CTG was active in recruiting potential leaders when they approached Nina. “They asked me about my past. I admitted that my brokenness was at its highest point. When they heard about my miserable life with my parents, they took advantage of my emotional distress. With the promise of a family and a place to call home, they assured me that they would support and help me achieve my goals and provide support for my education, security, care, and love,” Nina said. The CPP- NPA-NDF claimed that the organization is fair regardless of age, gender, or state of life, so she entrusted herself to the clout of the CTG, eventually manipulated her motivations and vulnerabilities, and robbed her of her abilities.
Have you ever had the feeling that you were being violated in any way? Does it seem that the people in your life in whom you have placed your trust have shattered your self-esteem to the point where you are on the brink of losing your self-worth?
In this chapter, psychological manipulation as an approach to recruitment will be discussed in-depth, with an increasing focus on the psychological vulnerabilities and strengths of the developing self, the windows of opportunity for manipulation, and the tactics used to influence how each individual chooses and decides their life’s path. Like Nina, who possesses positive characteristics such as a desire to learn, kindness, empathy, hard work, and perseverance, but her basic familial environment did not support these. It is clear from her narrative that her lack of self-worth is a result of her parents’ favoritism, comparison, and ill-treatment toward her.
These painful experiences caused young Nina to develop low self-esteem, acquire a negative self-image, distrust toward her own family, and lack of self-compassion and direction. She expected the family to be a source of comfort, affection, a sense of belongingness, and the support she needed to reach her full potential was unavailable. Nina’s emotional distress is a powerful expression of deep-seated pain and sadness. And we must remember that no one enjoys being in pain. She was dealing with esteem and security issues at that time.
Nina’s drive in joining the CPP-NPA-NDF was a way to avoid setbacks and cope with the distressful situation. She felt a sense of community in the CTG. Nina thought she was empowered to overcome her pain and loneliness. She allowed herself to be with the CTG in order to survive without considering the background of the deceitful and manipulative organization that embraced her and fulfilled her basic physical and psychological needs. For Nina, no one else was available at the time, except for the CTG, who promised to provide her assistance in disguise. It was exactly what she needed.
Try to put yourself in her shoes and think about why she grabbed whatever was in front of her. Empathy should be used. Was her decision to look for a way to survive and thrive a misjudgment, or was it a reasonable course of action in the given circumstances? Is it possible that she was strategically violated once more?
According to Coons and Weber’s “Manipulation: Theory and Practice,” psychological manipulation is steering or influencing of others’ choices through the use of methods that may be morally problematic. Indeed, this can be a very stressful experience for those involved. It has the potential to negatively impact one’s physical, emotional, and mental health. It could be a humiliating and disturbing experience. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are, however, effective methods of dealing with it. As a result, to overcome this, one should learn and understand only how to manipulate dynamics and resistance tactics.55
However, Wood identifies three types of manipulation: deception, pressuring, and exploiting an emotional vulnerability or character defects.56 The manipulation of someone’s beliefs, desires, or emotions such that Nina falls short of ideals for belief, desire, or emotion in ways that are typically not someone’s self-interest or that are likely not in her self-interest in the present context.20
In an interesting twist, Posner states that manipulation is “playing artfully or unfairly on someone with insidious means, particularly for one’s benefit,” which is regarded as unfair and an indirect form of fraud by the common law. The manipulator either perceives that the victim brings incorrect assumptions to a transaction and does not correct them, or else anticipates and takes advantage of people’s proclivity to make incorrect inferences. The manipulator can thus affect a transfer from the victim to himself without resorting to explicit deception or coercion on his part.57 Conversely, Buss, Gomes, Higgins, and Lauterbach derive six types of manipulation strategies such as charm, silent treatment, compulsion, reason, deterioration, and decay.58
These approaches are helpful in examining the vast variety of settings in which manipulation occurs. The necessity of bringing them all together cannot be overstated in terms of understanding the issue of the psychology of manipulation and its consequences in the context of terrorism.
Psychology of Manipulation
In such a case, what exactly is the psychology of manipulation? Simon marked the psychology of manipulation as a form of social manipulation that seeks to alter others’ actions or perceptions through indirect, misleading, or underhanded tactics.59 He explained that such methods might be called exploitative and devious by promoting the interests of the manipulator, often at the cost of another. Successful psychological manipulation primarily involves a manipulator who conceals aggressive intentions and behaviors and is affable. Consequently, the manipulation is likely to be accomplished through aggressive covert means.59
The CPP-NPA-NDF, according to the friends rescued, like other terrorist groups in the Philippines, profiled potential recruits’ psychological vulnerabilities to determine which tactics and procedures were likely to be most effective in persuading them. The CPP-NPA-NDF identified them as potential recruits and assessed their needs, motivations, goals, strengths, and weaknesses. The CPP-NPA-NDF employed psychological manipulation to exploit their identified vulnerabilities and eventually persuade them to choose violence to overthrow the government.
One of the notable things I was enlightened about is knowing the psychological vulnerabilities of the victim to determine which approaches are likely to be the most operative.
In this book, the psychological gateways of manipulation with the dire need to understand the deepest depths of the decision of friends rescued in joining the CTGs are unearthed.
Psychological Windows
of Manipulation
In Sheep’s Clothing: Understanding and Dealing with Manipulative People, Simon accentuates that having difficulty for the victim to accept the idea that some people are cunning, devious, and ruthless; over-consciousness; low self-confidence, or lacking in trust and assertiveness; over-intellectualization or the victim is trying too hard to understand and believes that the manipulator has some understandable reason to hurt; and emotional dependence or being a person who has a submissive personality.59 It means that the more emotionally dependent a person is, the more vulnerable they are to be exploited and manipulated.Also, Braiker stressed that manipulators could have various possible motivations, including a solid need to attain feelings of power and superiority in relationships with others, want and need to feel in control, and a desire to gain a sense of power over others to raise their perception of self-esteem, boredom, or growing tired of their surroundings.60
Straightway, let us apply these perspectives in the context of terrorism. Randy Borum’s study on the psychology of terrorists underlined that it is critical to understand the causes, motives, and determinants of terrorist behavior. However, he believes that understanding these factors will help us better understand terrorist behavior. It is a huge undertaking, but raising awareness is essential in the fight against violence, the threat of terrorism, and the preservation of global security.20
For McCormick, terrorism is not seen as “the product of a single decision, but the result of the approach, a dialectical process that gradually pushes a person to a commitment to overtime abuse.”20
“Dialectical” caught my attention. How does it become dialectic? A prior study also endorses the general suggestion that there is no single direction or theory; those who can accurately clarify how most individuals who come to accept radical terrorist ideologies are addicted to violence.20
Another point worth mentioning is that terrorism research has not established or produced any promising prospects for identifying a terrorist personality or any other precise psychological profile of terror.22
Hence, this chapter concentrates on understanding the self-development of friends rescued, including their familial experiences, vulnerabilities, and strengths. Also, it maps out the socio-cultural drivers such as marginalization, injustices, inequality, familial and community conflicts, and geographical isolation that push the friends rescued to seek reform with the CTGs. The personal drivers or pull factors including family, peer groups, curiosity, and identity confusion, heroism, the need for belongingness and sense of community, and psychological rewards, which includes a sense of meaning that pull the friends rescued to resolve inequality that influenced their decisions to become involved in terrorist activities is reviewed.
Understanding the micro and macro levels of influences that contribute to the formation of their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors can stimulate our imaginative minds to better fathom the psychological windows of manipulation that lead to terroristic behavior.
Make an effort to pick the windows of manipulation from the storylines of the friends rescued:
Only the NPA has made regular trips to Maricel’s barrio. “In the past, they hosted social gatherings and seemed like a fun group of people. It was not uncommon for them to hold meetings for teenagers at their place of mass recruitment,” said Maricel. “Having just turned 19 at that time, I can remember being amazed and glad to see how cheerful, lively, and joyful everyone appeared to be at the celebration. They invited me and my friends. They were very nice, welcoming, and respectful,” she added.
As an interesting side note, Maricel is the type of person who experienced bullying in school because of her physical impairment. Even though she had not seen anyone in their group (NPA) make fun of her disabilities, she felt appreciated, valued, and like she belonged there.
Jonard is the moniker he went by in the street. In a family of six, he is the fourth child. He was already helping his parents in the farm when he was only eight years old. He gets up early in the morning to do his household responsibilities before taking a shower and preparing for the day’s activities. “I am a dreamer,” he bravely confessed. “My outlook in life has always been full of hope and optimism. I believe that one day I can make a difference in our difficult financial situation,” Jonard said. In the long run, he planned to achieve his educational goals.
One day, his parents eventually became distant from one another. At that time, the circumstances in his life grew increasingly complicated, and his determination to build a better life for his family apparently crumbled around him. To put it another way, as he continued to disclose his story, “My inability to complete my schooling was due to the separation of my parents, which caused me to move away,” Jonard mused. “I was disappointed because I had placed my faith in them to guide me in reaching my greatest potential, but they let me down,” he said.
“When I was a child, I yearned for parental supervision and attention more than anything. But they were not able to provide it. After their separation, I took the responsibility of providing for my siblings. Although I felt completely alone, I stood in front of my siblings and convinced them that everything was OK with me,” Jonard stressed. Consequently, despite his efforts, he was making insufficient income to provide for his family. He needed to find a second job to earn more. Until he received an unexpected phone call from his cousin, notifying him of a lucrative career opportunity. Realizing how fortunate he was, Jonard’s decision to accept the job was based on the compensation package’s appeal and advantages. Still, he was unaware that the position he was accepting was with the CPP-NPA-NDF, which he later learned about due to his acceptance.
Exploring and navigating the psychological tactics of manipulation, the possible psychological pathways to terrorism in the cases of the characters are illustrated in this writing. I recognize the book by Harriet B. Braiker, “Who’s Pulling Your Strings: How to Break the Cycle of Manipulation and Regain Control of Your Life?” as absolutely brilliant in exposing the methods of manipulators.
Now, start with the “buttons of vulnerability”60 and work our way down the list to fully understand the decisions of the friends rescued.
Button No. 1:
The Disease to Please
or People-Pleasing Syndrome
When people-pleasers try to please others, they experience a compulsive, even addictive, need to please them. They have the mistaken belief that by meeting the needs of others, they will be able to gain love and a sense of self-worth.
Button No. 2:
The Approval Addict
Persons addicted to receiving approval and acceptance from others have a strong desire to be accepted and accept themselves. Rejection, criticism, and abandonment are all terrifying emotions for approval addicts. It is critical for their emotional survival that they are liked by others, and they are relatively easy to control in their behavior.
Button No. 3:
Fear of Negative Feelings (Emetophobia)
‘Emetophobia’ is a psychological condition where a person has an excessive or irrational fear of negative emotions. For emetophobic, avoiding anger, conflict, and confrontation will take almost any amount of time. Attempting to avoid conflict is not always indicative of a healthy relationship, and it may be a sign of a more serious issue.
Button No. 4:
Having a lack of assertiveness
or the inability to say “no”
People-pleasers have difficulty saying “no” to any request, expressed need, desire, invitation, or demand that they do not want to comply with or fulfill. It is common for them to feel guilty or selfish after saying “no” because they have let others down. Aversion to negative emotions is a factor in their inability to assert themselves and refuse to accept a “no.”
Button No. 5:
The Vanishing Self
A diminished sense of self causes people to feel “invisible” and unsure of their own identity. Affiliations that are hazy and indistinct cause people to feel alienated from themselves and others. The manipulation of those with a vague or ambiguous sense is common among manipulative individuals.
Button No. 6:
Lack of Self-Reliance
When it comes to manipulation, people with low self-esteem make easy prey. When it comes to any issue or topic, no matter how significant or insignificant it may seem, they tend to seek advice from others. All of the ideas and advice that they receive from others are difficult for them to process and integrate.
Button No. 7:
The External Locus of Control (LOC)
The term “locus of control” refers to the idea of how or where you attribute the cause of events that occur or fail to occur. External LOC implies that individuals feel at the mercy of their environment. Persons with an external LOC are inclined to allow others to rule them since they have low self-esteem.
Interestingly, there are additional buttons of vulnerability I discovered in this investigation.
Button No. 8:
Absence of Self-Compassion
Many of the actors were struggling to love themselves. Based on their self-development, as early as childhood days, guidance from their significant others was not available. Remember that most of them were products of dysfunctional families, separation, neglect, and were exposed to traumatic and abusive experiences of the past. These occurrences originated primarily within the family system. As a result, actors developed rebellious behavior and became more motivated to fight against the norms of the society as a coping strategy from inner pain. Also, education about self-understanding and the importance of paying attention to the developmental stages and crises of a child or a human being in general was scarce, especially for those in a geographically isolated area far from basic government services. Aside from psychological makeup and family history, cultural, tribal, and political ancestors greatly influenced their development. Some of them were raised in a violent environment, war culture, and taught to despise anyone they perceived to be the oppressor of the marginalized or excluded. This, in turn, translated to the lack of kindness toward themselves, as they have not received it from their basic family and community. It should be noted that the actors in this study agreed that they developed hatred instead of compassion.
In an article written by Allison Abrams, Professor Mardesen explains that people hate because they fear things that are different from themselves.62 Behavioral researcher Patrick Wanis claims that a person who develops hatred is driven by the two fundamental emotions of love and aggression. This implies that hatred is rooted in our fear of people who are different from the self, and it becomes natural for a person to resort to in-group protection when they feel threatened by others.62 Additionally, clinical psychologist Dana Harron posits that the things we dislike about ourselves terrify the individual the most. The tendency to reject what they do not like about themselves is called “projection,” a term coined by Sigmund Freud. For instance, the desire to be good causes one person to project “badness” outward and attack it, says psychologist Brad Reedy.62 That is why when hatred is associated with group membership, such as CPP-NPA-NDF, it can promote a sense of connection and camaraderie that helps fill a vacuum in one’s identity. As a result, the hate of an individual or organization diverts attention away from the more anxiety-inducing job of creating identity.
Although the actors have learned these habits of hatred and vengeance, these can be unlearned if they choose to do so. Self-compassion is something that the friends rescued need to cultivate. Compassion for oneself entails accepting oneself in its entirety. It comes from forgiving their past negative stories, as these do not define their identity in the present. Being comfortable with themselves is the key, as imperfections are part of common humanity. Only after they have learned to hold themselves with compassion will they demonstrate compassion toward other people. In this, peace from within radiates to others. Hatred is no longer an option.
Button No. 9:
Dearth of Self-efficacy
One’s lack of confidence in one’s ability to plan and carry out the courses of action required to deal with potential problems in the future. After suffering a setback, it is easy for them to lose faith in their abilities. According to research, reduced self-efficacy has been linked to increased levels of psychological distress. For example, Reynaldo shared that he relied on his leaders’ instructions and simply did what they commanded him to do. “Since my mother’s death, I have been neglected by my father. I have nowhere to go, and numerous problems have come my way, so I am worried that I will not survive on my own. The fact is that I am uneducated, and I am inept at writing and reading. In my mind, I could not live on my own. I found strength with the CPP-NPA-NDF because they appeared to be very accommodating of my needs,” Reynaldo explained. He thought he could be successful through them even if he did not have formal education or the support of his parents. He believed that no one would accept him into mainstream society because he believed he lacked the necessary skills and was incapable of performing any job. He thought his only recourse was to cling to the terrorist group that had accepted him and not questioned his incapacity. Reynaldo’s skepticism about his ability to overcome life’s difficulties signifies an extremely skewed sense of self-efficacy, which left him vulnerable to the seduction of the captors.
Concurring to Albert Bandura’s theory, if individuals have self-efficacy, they have a strong belief in their own ability to succeed.40 This belief sets the tone for how individuals think, behave, and feel about themselves. They are aware of their flaws and strengths, and they choose to make the most of their assets to the best of their respective abilities. People who have a low sense of self-efficacy perceive complex tasks as personal threats and avoid tackling them altogether. In the face of challenging tasks, they tend to concentrate on the skills they lack rather than the ones they already have. Some people are more easily discouraged by setbacks and failures than others. For example, someone with a high sense of self-efficacy sees obstacles as simple tasks that must be overcome and are not easily discouraged by setbacks and failures, which contradicts the behavior of Reynaldo. His lack of confidence in his ability to succeed leads to a desire to avoid challenges and the tendency to become easily discouraged and dependent on others. His adverse reactions to setbacks may have gone unnoticed, and as a result, he did not change his perspective on his unhealthy attitude.63
Button No. 10:
Non-existence of Self-awareness
Having a lack of self-awareness means that the person cannot understand why they act the way they do and why others act the way they do, which leads to disappointment and alienation.
Friends rescued exhibited similar attitudes before their first long-term participation in the terrorist group. They rejected their parents’ advice not to join the group and assumed that anyone who thinks differently than they do is wrong, they admit. They became defensive or came up with numerous excuses when they were challenged about their views on the CPP-NPA-NDF ideology. It is common for them to become sulky and passive-aggressive when they are told that the group is not for them. An obvious sign that they lacked self-awareness was their unwillingness to acknowledge their feelings, actions, and reactions while clinging to the ideology. However, it boils down to a lack of social and self-awareness. Anger, fear, and outbursts of rage were all things that the friends rescued remembered having experienced in their adolescence. As a result, they felt compelled to exert authority together with their newfound group of haters. As a general rule, they do not think they are being held responsible for their problems and may even end up blaming others.
However, to be self-aware, one must objectively view oneself through self-reflection. Based on Duval and Wicklund’s self-awareness theory, you are not your thoughts but an entity observing your thoughts; you are the thinker, independent of your thoughts. Our inner self, which Duval and Wicklund refer to as “self-evaluation,” can be focused upon and ignored while we go about our daily routines.64 Daniel Goleman further explains that you could control your impulses by becoming self-aware. It involves assessing and determining whether or not you are making the right choices to achieve your goals based on these psychological standards of self-awareness.65 The ability to better understand yourself and the world around you leads to greater self-awareness and better decision-making.66 Being more productive at work, a higher sense of self-worth67 and more stable well-being are imperative.
These are the common indicators of vulnerability displayed by the friends rescued. The recruiters manipulate these vulnerabilities to win them over. Is it possible to explain how these buttons of vulnerability are being used as an entry point into the process of psychological manipulation? Why are these vulnerabilities crucial for the victim to rise against their government? Let us see!
A recruitment and grooming strategy for terrorism can be identified by following the steps published by Jordy Krasenberg where the grooming process begins and ends, but practitioners can apply some universal grooming strategies. Hate preachers and those who prey on people’s vulnerabilities and grievances to get them to join violent extremism are among the groomers, also known as recruiters.68 Observe how the recruiters are characterized, what motivates them, and how they go about attracting new victims.
This information may prove invaluable in gaining a better understanding of the actors’ experiences, particularly how they were recruited and cuffed to the throne of terrorism.
Consider Lito’s past experience to see if he has any of the buttons of vulnerabilities that the perpetrators pressed in what turned out to be a case of psychological manipulation.
“I was in my adolescent years at the time, and I was a naturally curious individual. The recruiters, who included my older brothers, made strong efforts to persuade me to join them. I could not figure out what they were attempting to achieve. Everything I have learned from them has influenced my desire for retribution in some way. Their desire for me to be a member of their group stemmed from my demonstrated leadership abilities during my younger years. They stated that I would be a great asset because I am an excellent conversationalist. However, deep down inside, I was feeling lonely at the time, and I had a strong desire for vengeance and further my education. I do not want them to think of me as a weak person,” Lito confessed.
He was constantly reminded of his mother’s death, supposedly brought about by the soldiers’ fault, and that her mother had been the victim of violence. And he had a responsibility to seek retribution for his mother. They sowed hatred in his heart, but at the same time, they appeared to be concerned about his food, safety, and security.
The CTG has always reassured me that their fight is indeed the life of defending our sovereignty against the government’s force and oppression. They instilled in me the belief that we are also ambassadors for the entire human race, aside from fighting for our country. They believe that we are the only ones who can improve the conditions of the poor and that once we have completed the revolution’s mission, we will all have equal rights, such as land ownership and free education. According to Lito, it was all part of their propaganda and recruitment campaign, which was a form of manipulation.
“Who will fight for the poor farmers, and is there anyone else who is capable of doing so?” He wonders as he recalls the CPP-NPA-NDF’s statements. The recruiters convinced him that the collective efforts of young people would be sufficient to alleviate the plight of farmers. Our tenacity in asserting our right to equal treatment will overhaul and replace the old system of government. They will work together to establish a government that is concerned with the well-being of humanity and that provides free education and hospitalization to all people everywhere. They hope that they will be successful in their fight against the soldiers and the government and will be able to achieve their goals of living a decent and just life. They must, however, remain disciplined in their pursuit of long-term success, despite the difficulties they may face in the mountains. During the war, they were told that their ability to persevere through hunger and unexpected death would directly determine the extent of their success and strive to do so on purpose for the benefit of all humanity, rather than just for their personal gain.
“That was the unyielding dogma of the CPP-NPA-NDF. Because of their deceptive point of view, I have been more motivated to find out what they are trying to hide from me. In particular, I was intrigued by the prospect of being a source of strength for abused people in our country. Their persuasive abilities were certainly enthralling to someone like me, who has had limited access to formal education,” Lito continued.
Six months later, he has been told on numerous occasions that he is no longer permitted to listen to radio broadcasts on government-related issues during the recruitment process. Later, Lito realized that the good news could affect the manipulation process and cause him to rethink his initial convictions and decisions that could jeopardize their efforts to win his trust and loyalty to the group.
“The situation had me feeling a little trapped. I am plagued by intense anxiety all the time. The psychological warfare employed by our leaders duped me into believing that the NPA captives had been brutally beaten and killed by military forces when I attempted to stop and return home due to exhaustion. Because I have witnessed extreme military aggression in the past, I was under the impression that it was happening all the time. In my mind, I was plagued by fixated assumptions about how things could be and about how I wished to resume my normal life,” Lito expressed.
Lito had become completely radicalized and remained loyal to the terrorist group for a long time. A season of brokenness, loneliness, and frail youth occurred when the CPP-NPA-NDF recruiters found him.
My discovery of the friends rescued’s experiences in the recruitment process led me to the most recent map about psychological manipulation carried out in the context of terrorism.
Consider a few instances of psychological manipulation in the Philippine domain entwined with defined recruitment steps in terrorism identified by Krasenberg and Wouterse.68 These steps are utilized to explain the current investigation further to raise public awareness. Additionally, grooming strategies are highlighted as it is considered that relationship nurturing is vital in recruitment to win over potential recruits. And they are governed by a mechanism that frequently necessitates years.
How extremely are consciously-conceived recruitment strategies employed to manipulate and champion the hearts and minds of the vulnerable but imbued with strengths? Never forget, however, to pay close attention to the buttons that indicate vulnerability!
Steps in Recruitment Utilizing
Psychological Manipulation
Guided by the principle of Krasenberg and Wouterse’s Grooming for Terror68 and based on CPP-NPA-NDF’s Barrio Module, these steps in recruitment utilizing psychological manipulation transpire.
Prior to the recruitment and the formation of a terrorist group, an assessment of a potential environment is required. It entails quickly scanning the environment to gain awareness and a complete picture of the people in positions of power who may cause trouble in the establishment and operation of CTGs. Invitations, introductions in the community, and establishing a common ground with the target group, such as youth clubs or social organizations,68 in a specific location are the initial activities of the recruitment. In the Philippines, particularly in the Zamboanga Peninsula, this strategy is implemented during the first phase of forming a Barrio Liaison Group. The Physical and Social Investigation (PSI) is then facilitated by visually inspecting the target environment or community where the terrorist group will seek potential recruits. In the process, key informants situated in the target environment are needed. They will be used to profile potential victims and recruits, such as their strengths and weaknesses. Also, the informants serve as links to assist CPP-NPA-NDF-organized groups in initial supervening propaganda for the masses, providing information on the AFP and undesirable elements that may impede their intentions, and serving as guides in going in and out of the barrio. Through them, recruiters will then evaluate the dynamics of security forces and conduct statistical analyses on human capital, population, family size, women, youth, and children.
Furthermore, they are concerned with people’s fundamental interests, strengths, jobs, economic situation, and individual and collective vulnerabilities. If they notice that security is permissive in that barrio, which is socially isolated and not accessible to the mainstream government, they will seize the opportunity. They will then start the steps in the recruitment process to establish a political and military organization.
Step 1:
Hunting for Potential Recruits
to Join the Terrorist Group
This victim selection is an incredibly strategic, well-planned process that marks the first step in the grooming process. Recruiters focus on people at a breaking point in life or with perceived psychological vulnerabilities such as low self-esteem, low confidence, and social naiveté. It transpires throughout the formation of the Barrio Organizing Group. Pay attention to Jenny’s story:
“I was at the height of my miserable existence. I want to make genuine friendships and grow as a person without my family,” Jenny reflected. She was 14 years old when her parents repeatedly warned her that she needed to leave home since she was perceived as a rebellious child due to her assertive and outgoing personality. When she was a young student, she cherished the opportunity to demonstrate her strengths and qualities. She was very involved in school activities, and her parents and grandparents were not encouraging her efforts to discover her abilities and make use of her passion for music and art. “My father told me that I am not good enough, and he wanted me to get away from them as soon as possible. I was in a state of deep despair, and I wandered off on a tangent while trying to figure out where I could find refuge. I decided to walk away from my family. I went from house to house, visiting my cousins and friends, until I came to my uncle’s house,” Jenny continued. However, in contrast to the safe and loving environment she desired, she was slapped by an incident. Jenny’s uncle made an unsuccessful attempt to rape her. She was completely devastated, and she came close to committing suicide due to an unexplainable sense of shame toward herself. After the incident, she stated, “I do not have a family anymore.” That was the beginning of her decision to join the CPP-NPA-NDF, which was unwavering because she had become overawed by the notion that no one, not even her own family and relatives, truly cared about her or wanted to help her. “As a child, I was taught by the members of the CTG to be vengeful. They seized control of my abilities and made themselves available for me during a time of crisis because my own family and relatives neglected me,” Jenny disclosed.
On the contrary, the CTG will abandon those who have mental health issues or obvious physical disorders. Furthermore, they do not prefer overly critical people or those who demonstrate strong resilience, knowledge of ideology, and disposition in life. Likewise, once the potential area is secured, three to ten people are chosen to assist in conducting propaganda and establishing links with the masses in the desired location within one week to one month. The liaison group is tasked to look for recruits who they see as skilled, but who are going through difficulties in their lives. The emotional and social challenges make them vulnerable to deception, which can be exploited by recruiters who offer a listening ear while openly building a rapport, friendship, and trust. Some opportunities arise during festive occasions, such as inviting prospects to parties and ensuring that they have meaningful and encouraging conversations.
“It was my cousin’s birthday when I saw a group of armed men, all wearing black clothing. One of them approached me and started a friendly conversation. He asked if I was still studying. I answered, yes, and I am about to graduate from high school,” Jenny shared. “These recruiters entice potential additional recruits from the community. If they found out that you are having financial and emotional difficulties to pursue your education goals, they will employ all manipulative tactics to encourage you to be a member of the group,” she shared.
“I went on to become a political instructor. I spoke with farmers, young people, men, and women, and sought to persuade them to become members of the organization. My ability to develop cordial relationships and to transmit the fundamental ideas I learned from my superiors helped me recruit a large number of people,” Jenny added.
Step 2:
Buttonholing the Identified
Potential Recruits
This phase of the recruitment process is a difficult task for the recruiters. The goal of this stage is for the recruiters to approach the prospect through everyday routines, such as meeting them at the same location or claiming to have the same hobbies as they do. They attempt to be acquainted through someone they trust or through a member of the community. The recruiter is then recommended to engage in conversation with the prospect, identify shared points of interest (religion, personal difficulties, politics, etc.), and gain an understanding of the candidate’s personality. To proceed to the next step in the grooming process, it is necessary to gain their trust first. In this undertaking, friends rescued were invited to social gatherings such as birthday parties, small group lectures, and medical and outreach programs in their community.
“My cousin once invited me during her birthday. There, I met the terrorist group. They were so friendly. I am an outspoken person, and I remember that they seemed understanding. They validated my beliefs and feelings initially, and they built relationships of trust on me. In the following days and weeks, they talked about corrupt politicians and inefficient government officials who made a lot of promises before the election but then deserted and forgot about the poor people once they won the election. It heightened our feelings of being heroes when they told us that dying in the revolutionary group was more honorable and dignified than dying in a mainstream government,” Jenny went on to say more.
When approaching potential victims, recruitment and grooming professionals frequently employ the love-bombing grooming tactic, as this is the first step in winning the hearts of potential recruits.68 In this case, it is necessary to show a prospective recruit a strong sense of affection, respect, and complete approval. It is analogous to the case of the friends rescued, who were cartelized by the CPP-NPA-NDF using the same technique.
“In the morning of April 4, 2016, I arrived at the CPP-NPA-NDF camp and was welcomed warmly by everybody. They greeted me and shook my hand upon my arrival. They provided tasty food. We all ate together and shared the same dish, regardless of our position in the organization’s hierarchical structure. They appeared to be quite courteous and accommodating,” Jenny added.
During the recruitment process, the CTG will make you feel a sense of belongingness by embracing you as if you were a member of their own family. A good life, education, financial support, food, a sense of love and affection and other benefits were all promised to them. On the whole, the use of a love-bombing strategy, which includes showing affection, visiting houses in the barrio, initiating conversation at a party, establishing friendships and relationships, and creating a sense of family and community, is a fundamental and essential tactic that signals the beginning of radicalization.
Nina, another friend rescued, recalled, “As soon as they learned about my aspirations and abilities as well as my problems, including my tragic family history and my financially-troubled state of life, they assured me that they would allow me to finish my studies. They also promised me financial support, honing my abilities, inclinations, and worth and reassuring my safety and security as a member of the CTG. They told me that I could be an agent of change intended to improve the poor people’s living conditions. I thought it sounded heroic, and I was convinced.”
Mia, among the friends rescued in a group process activity, said, “They will extend you a very warm welcome and inquire as to how I am doing as well. They informed me that they were overjoyed when I accepted their invitation. They told me that my decision was correct, and I agreed.”
At every opportunity, recruiters and members of the CTG will remind them that, despite their youth, they still have a long way to go before they can significantly contribute to solving the problems in their communities and throughout the country.
“They said that our youthful idealism and capabilities can overthrow the corrupt government system. They made us feel like we can be heroes and agents of change because what we are doing is purposeful. They said dying in a noble cause with the NPA is more honorable and dignified than doing nothing against an oppressive government,” Jenny pronounced.
While highlighting the government’s weaknesses, the recruiters’ narratives serve as a magnet and a platform for spewing hatred. More so, love-bombing continues to occur during the terrorist group’s recruitment and group formation efforts.
Step 3:
Pitching a Communist Ideology
In this step, recruiters and groomers are advised not to point out differences in basic ideology, point out the dangers of other groups, create doubts about different branches of ideology or belief systems, point out scholars or influencers as the only reliable source of information, and distribute materials such as leaflets and books during this stage because ideology plays such a significant role. The CPP-NPA-NDF has put this scheme into practice. The manipulative strategy begins with understanding the prospect’s perceptions and worldview. Those who they presume are vulnerable, emotionally shattered, and struggling to find their way by posing challenging questions that pique their intellectual and emotional curiosity. After that, engage in educational discussions.
Jenny was interviewed about her concerns, her family’s way of life, as well as her hopes and dreams for the future. She said, “I told them that I wanted to be a nurse.” Then the recruiter replied, “You can be employed as a nurse in our organization even if you have not completed college education. We will provide you with the training so you will be able to perform functions as a nurse.”
While Jemar disclosed, “In their camp, I saw a wealth of information materials about the CPP-NPA-NDF. The political instructors looked knowledgeable and articulate. Two to three years of education about communist ideology is recommended to be completed. There were professionals in attendance who were affiliated with the CTG. Lawyers, doctors, and even professors were among those who took part in the show of force. They were experts in their field and were good conversationalists. I was handed firearms and put through a series of shooting training exercises after I reached my sixth month of training in the CPP-NPA-NDF,” he added.
Besides, love-bombing continues by providing intrinsic and extrinsic rewards such as financial assistance and food, as well as fueling psychological motivations such as offering hope for a good life and safety, and promoting fairness, love, and brotherhood. The group also provides a sense of inclusion with the condition of embracing their principles and operating with the belief and feeling that they are relevant to the community’s transformation. During this process, insulation of information tactics takes place, which is a form of psychological manipulation. To limit access to the media and discount “outside” information, they have taken steps. In addition, they will provide potential recruits with their own media, magazines, and books, which were produced by the CPP-NPA-NDF. After a while, the victims submit themselves to the organization that provides a sense of family and belongingness, educational opportunities, power and connection, and the ability to express one’s own worldview and a new identity in public. An overwhelming sense of empowerment pervades the room of psychological manipulation.
Jenny was taken aback by the sheer power of the M16 rifle brought by the group of armed men during one of their meetings. “At the time, I had reached a breaking point and decided to join because I wanted to exact vengeance on those who abused me, including my grandfather. While I was filled with resentment, they shielded me from learning lessons that eventually led me to a new perspective on winning something beneficial to myself and the community. I put my trust in the new ideology, hatred, and a ruthless spirit, to name a few negative feelings,” Jenny uttered.
She considered it a good bargain since it would enable her to obtain the justice she believed she deserved. Possessing a firearm could be perceived as possessing authority. The sensation of superiority over others, particularly those who had broken her heart, became a source of strength that transcended her deeply established emotions of inferiority.
In a nutshell, recruiters convinced victims to participate in the terrorist activities because they considered it meaningful, and they were told that they were humanitarian heroes—the strength for the afflicted and the poor. However, while the group serves as a source of inspiration, an anchor, and a reservoir of coping mechanisms for protecting the ego from the hurt and pain of the past, they are nuzzled in the present while allowing for future apprehensions. And once the recruiters earned the prospective members’ trust, they educated them about the terrorist group’s ultimate goal to change the democratic form of government to a socialist-communist form of government by any possible means, even through violence.
“After that, they explained the terrorist group’s philosophy and goals to her and the other prospects, which they found to be quite interesting to learn. “Philosopiyang Pagkaka-pantay-pantay; Nasyonalismong Pilipino; and MKLRP (Maikling Kurso sa Lipunan at Rebulosyonaryong Pilipino) were the topics covered which led them to magnify the deficiencies and ineffectiveness of the government,” Jenny disclosed.
Slowly but surely, the terrorist group’s organization manufactures the victim’s new individuality. Nonetheless, the duration of this step is dictated by the victim’s personality, the surrounding conditions, and the groomer’s manipulative ability.
Step 4:
Enticing for the First Participation
in Terrorist Activity
They attempted to lure the recruits into their first participation in the terrorist group. The process of indoctrination becomes more serious and personal as time goes on. The groomer attempts to develop a communication strategy by identifying simple methods of staying in touch. In this case, the groomer employs deception and manipulation to persuade the victim. The aim is for the prospective recruits to be indoctrinated in a subtle but passionate manner. It is an appeal to emotion strategy, impairing their ability to think objectively. Unknowingly, victims are conditioned to despise the government by utilizing their educational platforms for radicalization. With this foundation in place, the victims became entangled in a new ideology that mirrored their plea for justice and equality, stemming from their own personal traumatic experiences in their own family and community. Emotionally vulnerable victims, who live in a state of hatred and vengeance, as well as those who have endured unfair treatment or injustice, and those who lack parental supervision, are the most susceptible to manipulation. This stage is critical toward participation to CTG activities. Friends rescued revealed that this strategy is implemented during the process of establishing the Barrio Organizing Committee, which is composed of individuals who are qualified and willing to serve as CTG members in a community.
“I recall a group of recruiters saying, ‘Who are we, and why are we here? And these are our narratives.’ Each one of us has a valuable and significant role in this movement. Our group will stop the oppression of the poor. The people in business and the politicians in the government system are all selfish. Women should be respected but they are being discriminated and marginalized in the mainstream society. Women should be on equal footing with men in all aspects of life,” Jenny explained.
“In addition, the youths are strong, aggressive, idealistic, and intelligent. They exhibit a high level of romanticism, among other characteristics. They are also capable of becoming fighters for the rights of the poor and the neglected. Ironically, this equality and fairness inside the organization are not practiced,” Jenny revealed.
It is the recruiter’s goal to manipulate the situation. This is to make the victim feel on top of the world, important, and unmissable, among other things. Social isolation strategies, on the other hand, appear one by one. The recruiter wants to eliminate any and all other people who might potentially influence the prospect’s decisions from consideration. Families and friends, for example, are not supportive and could potentially obstruct the process of initiation and full participation in the terrorist group. Additionally, the groomer seeks to isolate the victims from their previous lives, severing all ties that may interfere with the recruitment process, such as friends and family members who may negatively impact the recruitment process.
“We are told that in reality, we are not owned by our parents. Our parents do not own our minds,” Nina said. It reminds me of a line in the poem titled “On Children” written by Lebanese-American author Kahlil Gibran published in the 1923 book “The Prophet,” which goes:
“Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s
longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you
yet they belong not to you.”
Nina’s statement confirms that the CPP-NPA-NDF recruiters utilize this narrative to explain that the communist ideology is more important than their families.
This stage represents a significant shift in the victim’s life, resulting in a vacuum in which the opinions of friends and advisors become unpleasant or contradictory to newly held beliefs, prompting the recruit to seek additional guidance from their newfound terrorist friend, a confirmation bias. As these micro-communities of like-minded individuals grow in number and strength, their devotion to the ideology and group is strengthened, as are their convictions. It is the groomer’s responsibility to pay close attention to the victim’s intrinsic motivation at all times. What is the primary reason (psychological or emotional) for them to join the group (and participate in meaning-making activities)? Also, during this time, the process of recruiting and training mass activists begins. The new members will be used to persuade the general public, including the Barangay Council and security forces, as well as the Parents and Teachers Association, to incite hate and violence. The strategy is to arouse, organize and mobilize as part of tactics of deception. At the same time, they will assist the NPA with social investigations and class analysis, as well as intelligence gathering. They will act as guides and procure supplies on behalf of the organization. Some of them will be given a task like teaching mass courses with the assistance of qualified instructors, conducting in-depth investigations into the general public’s problems, and attempting to influence the entire Barangay Council, among other things. If they determine that the desired new members of mass activists is sufficient to launch a struggle, the first participation in the terrorism process will proceed to the next step.
Step 5:
Pushing the New Recruits to
Participate on a Long-Term Basis
The friends rescued term this as “sampa” or joining the CTG in going to their camps for further training and education, far away from their family. Individual participation in small groups is required for indoctrination activities, which encourage candidates to recognize their potential in preparation for upcoming engagements like participation in propaganda and military activities. This is also a method of determining whether or not a person is committed to the group. Indoctrination is considered complete when a potential recruit has accepted the radical ideology, understands their role in the strategy, and is prepared to participate actively in the campaign. They are evaluated at this stage to determine whether they are prepared to take on the specific role that the group requires of them. This could include pursuing a career as a groomer. The final step is to take action, which can be either violent or nonviolent. When a new member is deeply committed to something, it motivates them to be consistent with their promises and their actions; such loyalty makes their decision easier by reducing the number of things they have to consider.
It is also necessary to begin exerting control over the psychological and social aspects of the recruit. In this strategic tactic, the recruiter also begins to control the subject by requiring them to perform simple tasks and exert dominion over their physical environment. With each passing day, the recruit’s need for acceptance grows to the point where they can gradually take on more extensive responsibilities. This strategy occurs in establishing the Basic Party Unit according to the friends rescued, which serves as the forefront of mass movements and links with the general public.
Jenny divulged, “They are experts in manipulating our hearts and minds. They kept telling us that our life has a purpose, and we can only achieve it if we join a larger group of change agents for the marginalized farmers to overcome their suffering because of the corrupt government. We can be a hero not just for our family but for the country. I was even encouraged to extend my strengths and skills. I thought I was able to freely express my feelings. Because I felt I belonged and did not hear any judgments about my past life, but a validation of my feelings instead, I decided to be with them and took the first step of initiation when I completed all the necessary training.”
In addition, CPP-NPA-NDF establishes a politico-military structure in a target barangay and organize solid mass associations of sectoral groups of farmers, women, and young people. Typical sectoral groups are named as Pambansang Katipunan ng Magbubukid (PKM) for farmers/peasants, Malayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (MAKIBAKA) for women, and Kabataang Makabayan (KM) for the youth. These groups are tasked to maintain force multipliers and mass base support. Also, these groups secure CTG forces in barrios, carrying out duties as directed by the party in accordance with military plans and operations. They assist in the training of mass supporters and expansion of guerilla bases. The psychological ploy is still in effect in this stage of recruitment. However, it is more dangerous because it impacts one’s self-image.
In addition to changing dramatically in terms of their individuality, the recruits’ perceptions of themselves and the world shift dramatically, becoming completely different from their previous lives.
As a former political educator, Cende explained that her job was to amass women, farmers, and youth organizations. “On one occasion, they requested me to give an informative talk utilizing the PADEPA resource. I politely declined. As a young person trying to persuade others to join, I was apprehensive about taking on such a challenging endeavor in front of a large group of strangers. I do not have the guts to do it. They did, however, tell me that because I can read and write, I can be an effective teacher.” She went on to say, “I am also good at speaking.” Cende was feeling the strain, but she was also feeling a little encouragement. She claimed, “I had dropped out of school due to my mother’s insistence that I was less intellectual and talented than my sister.”
She was, however, subjected to a guilt trip and gaslighted as a result of the reasoning. “The NPA leaders told me that I am no longer permitted to return home. The Philippine Army is after me, and if I am caught, I will surely be raped and abused before being sent to jail. As well as being accused of lacking compassion for the poor, I was told that my lack of involvement with the defenders of the young and marginalized indicates that I do not have a heart for the group,” Cende said.
REFLECTIONS
Every human being’s
enormous quest
for a good life is the
essence of existence.
but the invisible power
of manipulation
takes advantage
of the broken souls.
Upon understanding the plight of the friends rescued’s narrative, I grasped Philip Zimbardo’s Lucifer Effect Theory of Manipulation which was used by Krasenberg and Wouterse. The Lucifer Effect is a concept that is critical to comprehend the transformation of human character. His experiments have demonstrated that people can adapt to the situations they face and be encouraged to do more by incrementally increasing their efforts.69 For Krasenberg & Wouterse, extremist organizations employ this “commitment and consistency” strategy, consciously manipulating the unwritten psychological rule that people generally do not like to back out of agreements they have made with other people or organizations.68 Lucifer Effect Theory postulates that our nature strives for consistency in our commitments and acts according to pre-existing attitudes, values, and previous actions, which they refer to as “consistency.”69
Looking at Cende’s case, the positive attention and praise slowly fade away. They are increasingly replaced by punishment, which is often distributed randomly to create a sense of uncertainty. When the recruiter abruptly withdraws positive attention and reinforcement from something that has previously been rewarded, Cende was preoccupied with determining what she has done incorrectly. She made frantic efforts to reclaim the positive aspects of her life. It is not necessary for the punishment to be physical; it could instead involve the threat of losing contact with a group or other social mechanisms. Gaslighting is a tactic that is frequently employed in this situation, just like what they have employed to their recruits. When an individual or members of a targeted group are subjected to psychological manipulation, the goal is to cause them to doubt their memory, perception, and mental stability.
Overall, in the recruitment and grooming process, as seen in the stories of the friends rescued, deindividuation occurs gradually and unconsciously, affecting the victims’ sense of self. This strategy is intended to encourage people to lose their sense of individuality.
“I was given a new name. I was issued with bags, uniforms, blankets, and hammocks. White clothes were not allowed. I have seen a shift in my personality, which I find interesting. Our actions are dictated by what they command us to do. We lost our ability to make decisions on our own. We are treated like robots who cannot exercise our independence, which is ironic given their struggle for reform in the government system. They significantly changed my life, my fundamental principles, and ideals,” Reynaldo confessed.
They loosen the reins on outlandish behavior, lowering self-consciousness while simultaneously raising group consciousness. Some examples include changing the victims’ names, involvement in group awareness activities, wearing black uniforms, and even firing up negative stories of the past. They are given a new sense of self to gain acceptance and approval from the rest of the group. Thus, it is more difficult for a recruit to leave the organization if they participate in practices that are viewed as antithetical to the mainstream government.
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