Army unit claims NPA using child soldiers in Ilocos Sur

ILOCOS SUR, Philippines — Soldiers in Ilocos Sur have been fighting mostly teenagers, a military official claimed Monday.

 

Lt. Col Julio Osias, commander of the 81st Infantry Battalion, said the New People's Army's "Platun South Ilocos Sur" has been using child soldiers. He said this information came from rebels who surrendered over the weekend. 

 

The surrenderees, whose names were pending processing into the social integration program of the government, turned themselves in over the weekend and hinted to soldiers that most of the NPA rebels in Southern Ilocos Sur were 21 years old or younger.  

 

Some are just 16 to 17 years old, Osias said, citing information from the surrenderees.

 

The National Democratic Front of the Philippines, which represents the communist rebels in peace talks, said in 2012 that the NPA does not recruit nor deploy child soldiers.

 

"In 1988, the Political Bureau of the CPP’s Central Committee stipulated that the NPA may recruit only persons who are 18 years and older as armed fighters for its combat units. On October 15, 1999 the Executive Committee of the CPP issued the 'Memorandum on the Minimum Age Requirement for NPA Fighters' reaffirming the minimum age of 18 for NPA fighters. In 2002, at the 11th Plenum of the CPP Central Committee, the policy of the minimum age was reiterated," it said in a declaration quoted by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

 

In the same document, the NDFP says it "recognizes the 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, it criticizes the 2002 Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, for its clear bias against liberation movements."

 

The protocol prohibits recruitment of minors for hostilities. NDFP notes, however, that the government runs the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, which is open to students below 18.

 

"The NDFP considers this protocol not legally binding. Hence, it does not impose legal obligations on the NPA."

 

Osais said the minors and young adults were recruited by the armed group, which operates in the "Triple S Complex" — the towns of Sta Cruz, Sta Lucia, and Salcedo town.

 

He said that on July 22, at least 12 NPA rebels under “Platun SIS” fought out with personnel of the 81st IB in Brgy. Sorioan, Salcedo town for 30 minutes. 

 

Some 20 rounds of M14 ammunition, Improvised Explosive Devices and other materials were seized from the rebels, whom soldiers managed to outmaneuver. 

 

Another firefight occurred on August 5 in Brgy San Elias, Sigay town during pursuit operations, he said.

 

These firefights and continuous military operations prompted some NPA members to surrender. They gave the information that most of the rebels in Southern Ilocos Sur are youngsters, Osias claimed.

 

“It is a violation to the law, RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) and the signed agreement [Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law] that these rebels are recruiting 'Child Warriors/Minors' to join them in their armed struggle and allowing them to take part in fighting,” Maj. Gen. Angelito De Leon, 7th Infantry Division commanding general, said.

 

“We will further strengthen our intelligence and civil military operations so that these activities will stop,” he said.

 

The statement of the surrenderees, added Army Col. Henry Robinson Jr., 702nd Infantry Brigade commander, “were necessary to communicate to the different sectors that handles the youth, more especially in educational institutions.”

 

Osias said his unit "will further enhance the engagements with the youth sector through different activities that will be conducted by the Civil Military Operation operators." 

 

He added the Army is trying to learn the identities of the supposed child soldiers "so that their respective families will be made aware and vigilant for them to help the government in persuading their kin to leave the armed struggle."