Police officials assailed the New Peoples Army for its admitted recruitment of minors as combatants and for the killing of civilians, policemen and destruction of properties of businessmen who refuse to pay revolutionary taxes. National Police Chief, Director General Oscar Calderon said the Communist Party of the Philippines' armed wing has not stopped recruiting minors and putting them at the front line of their guerilla warfare.
The statement came after Army soldiers captured five teenagers during an encounter with communists rebels in Sitio Kanunay, Barangay Liperian in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
The young NPA recruits were identified as Renan Fernando, 16; Ernie Alonzo, 18, Jean Alonzo, 15; Jay-ar Rafael, 19; and Marvel Gomez, 17; all supposed members of the Front Committee of the Communists' Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee.
Calderon said the NPA's practice of recruiting minors to join their war and extortion activities is a crime against humanity and is in violation of the United Nations charter on the rights of children.
"These children should be pursuing their education in schools so that they can alleviate their families from poverty. Instead, the CPP-NPA, with their blatant disrespect for human rights, had brainwashed them to leave their schools and forced to join their banditry, on the frontline of their wars and extortion activities, " the PNP Chief said.
The statement of the PNP Chief reflects the real score in the continous manipulation of the NPA of our country's HOPE for the future, the Filipino youth, as Child Warriors. Shame on them, these pseudo-nationalists can no longer convince the intellectuals and the educated to join their senseless cause that is why they recruit children.
Who are the real human rights violators now? KARAPATAN should also denounce this act of the NPA! Children should be cared, well fed, be educated, be loved... and should never be exposed to hazardous occupations. These rights are guaranteed by our government and International Laws which, sad to say, the NPA ignores. Wake up my brothers!
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