CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY:
Filipino rebels fighting with government forces in Brgy Minalwang, Claveria,
Misamis Oriental have sent children into combat and used young boys to carry weapons
and supplies, a new report by DxRU-Radio Ultra said, quoting a military briefer.
In citing 4th ID
spokesperson 1st Lt. Patrick Martinez, DxRU describes the young soldiers as “agresibo,”
“walay disiplina ug nagpinataka na lamang sa pagpabuto.”
Army authorities
condemned the CPP-NPA’s use of the children aged between 14 and 16 working with
rebels in the Northern Mindanao province who carried weapons and participated
in attack missions.
The military is calling
Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to investigate their claims as a violation on
the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian
Law (CARHRIHL).
(CARHRIHL) is the
agreement and provisions stipulating the principles and responsibilities on end
of hostilities and disposition of forces between the government and the National
Democratic Front of the Philippines.
Martinez said all Army
soldiers in the Normin Region were issued a stern warning to respect human
rights as they perform their various duties.
According also to Bishop
Felixberto Calang of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente, the military’s
complaints are better forwarded to the joint monitoring committee for an evenhanded
solution.
Martinez replied they will
continue their call to rebels to give up their armed struggle and return to law;
they will even give free medical attention to NPA wounded casualties.
He said a medical team
from the Bravo Company of the 8th Infantry Battalion is ready to help anytime
the wounded NPA members.
The town of Claveria is
a known lair of members of the NPA's Guerilla Front 4B, Northern Central
Mindanao Regional Committee.
Succeeding NPA leaders
and members in the area who voluntarily surrendered to the military said the
rebels promised them monthly allowances and large tracts of land should the
movement succeed.
At present, the Army's
403rd Infantry Brigade is in a pursuit operation against the suspected members
of the NPA, coordinating with tribal leaders and local officials there.