Four NPA surrenderees confirm group's exploitation of minors
Four more recently surrendered and one apprehended New People's Army
members confirmed of the group's continued use of "children warrior" to
fill-in their diminishing ranks.
Reports reaching the Headquarters Philippine Army revealed that NPA
surrenderees, Menard Dao-ayan and Roland Tarodan, both members of the
Kometing Larangan Gerilya (KLG) Marco, Ilocos-Cordillera Regional
Committee (ICRC), attested that they joined the NPA group in their minor
age. Dao-ayan revealed that he was only 17 years old when he was
recruited in December 2007; while Tarodan was barely 18 years old when
he joined the NPA in April 2003.
Apparently, the NPA's continuous trampling of the children's rights does
not end there. For the month of July alone, two more minor NPA members,
both 17 years old, voluntarily surrendered to the government troops in
Southern Mindanao. A certain Remie Pericano y Mapayo alias John Paul,
voluntarily surrendered to the Headquarters 67th Infantry Battalion in
Davao Oriental on July 16; while a certain Roy Balilid Parasa alias
Nino, member of Sentro De Grabidad 72, Far Southern Mindanao Region
Committee (FSMRC) surrendered to the elements of 72nd Infantry Battalion
in Davao del Sur along with his brother Roger Alfonso Parasa alias Amar.
Relatedly, a 15-year old NPA member of RSDG1, ROC, MWRP, identified as
Guio Rosos Sumangit along with Junairy Timaloy Lapaz @ Sammy and Jimboy
Maglasang Ortega @ Eric, was apprehended by the elements 53rd Infantry
Battalion in Zamboang Sibugay last July 3.
Another solid proof of a child warrior and a celebrated one at that is
the case of Zaldy Canete alias Ka Jinggoy who admitted to have been
recruited at the age of 13, wielding an M16 assault rifle at 16 and has
been engaged in many terroristic attacks against the people and the
state; and who rose to high rank in the NPA before his surrender early
this year after being wounded.
From 1999 to 2010, at least 340 minors have been recruited into the NPA
majority of which were between 15 years old and 18 years old. Of the
figure, 209 have surrendered, 119 were captured, while 12 were
unfortunately killed in actual encounters.
These are serious evidences of children recruitment into illegal armed
group that clearly substantiates the recent report of UN Special
Rapporteur for Children in Armed Conflict (CIAC) Ms. Radhika
Coomaraswamy, which named the NPA rebels as constant violators of
children's right.
The NPA has been consistently cited in UN reports since 2002 up to the
present as among those who continue to defy international standards
against the recruitment and use of child combatants.
The Philippine Army strongly condemns these desperate acts as we call on
the true human rights advocates and challenge self proclaimed human
rights groups to condemn the kidnappings and violations of human rights
by the NPA under the dictatorship and absolute control of the CPP.
Our soldiers are also well-informed on Republic Act 7610, a law
providing stronger deterrence and special protection against child
abuse, exploitation, and discrimination) and RA 9344 (Juvenile Justice
Welfare Act) to help safeguard and promote the rights of the children.
In all our operations, the Philippine Army gives utmost priority to
safeguard the human rights of every person, especially children and
those vulnerable to threats.#
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