OPAPP vows to protect youth from CPP-NPA

MANILA, Philippines — The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) assured parents that the government would protect the youth and put an end to the recruitment of child combatants by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Assistant secretary Wilben Mayor, OPAPP spokesman, said on Wednesday that the government will continue protecting children against this inhumane tactic used by the CPP-NPA. 

Mayor said the communist rebels are violating the law by using children to fight in their guerrilla war. 

“They (children) should not become soldiers or anything because first of all this is against the International Humanitarian Law and local laws. That is why we are giving the children the chance to study rather than fight the government,” Mayor said in Filipino.

Mayor said that various line agencies have programs that are designed to assist child warriors who have left the armed struggle or have been rescued by government forces from the rebel group.

The children could seek help from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), military and police, he added.

Once rescued, Mayor said the government will help the children reunite with their families and reintegrate into mainstream society as peaceful and productive civilians.

“We have what we call the Alternative Learning System in the Department of Education. There are many more programs to enhance the education of the children,” Mayor said.

To prevent the Reds from exploiting children and other vulnerable sectors, Mayor said the government is implementing an integrated and holistic campaign that would stamp out the decades-long communist rebellion in the country. 

Mayor said that under Executive Order No. 70, or the “whole-of-nation approach” to end local communist armed conflict, government agencies are working closely with local government units and members of the community to directly address the roots of the armed struggle.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Carlito Galvez Jr. had condemned the CPP-NPA for the crimes they have committed against children, saying the government will exhaust all efforts to ensure that their rights, particularly to get an education, shall be protected.

“It is time for the communist insurgents to own up to their misdeeds. Since the start of their decades-long armed rebellion, they have used children to fight their senseless war. It is time we put an end to this terrible act,” Galvez said.

Meanwhile, Galvez said OPAPP joined yesterday the celebration of women’s month.

He said that Filipinos must be reminded of how Filipinas played an indispensable role in the Philippine peace process.

“These remarkable women have broken barriers and stereotypes, so to speak, and have been actively involved in virtually all aspects of peacebuilding – from conflict prevention and resolution, to negotiation and signing of agreements, to social healing and reconciliation,” Galvez said.

Galvez said there are indeed a lot of reasons to celebrate women’s month. 

He said that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action, which highlighted the plight of women around the world during situations of armed conflict. 

Galvez said 2020 also marks the 20th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for the equal and active involvement of women in peace and security. 

He said the Philippines is celebrating this year the 10th anniversary of its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, which embodies the commitment to allow women to be at the forefront of the nation’s peace and security agenda.