NPA use of ‘child soldiers’ slammed anew

The Philippine Army’s 3rd Infantry Division (3ID) and the Regional Task Force 6 to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (RTF6-ELCAC) slammed the New People’s Army (NPA) for using child soldiers following an encounter in Candoni early this week which resulted to the death of a 16-year-old NPA fighter.

Major General Benedict Arevalo, 3ID commander, said they strongly condemn the NPA’s continuous recruitment of innocent minors.

Arevalo said using them in their senseless armed struggle is a clear violation of the International Humanitarian law.

Atty. Flosemer Chris Gonzales, spokesperson of RTF6-ELCAC, meanwhile, described the NPA’s act of recruiting minors into their fold as “the worst among the worst of criminals in our country.”

Gonzales said those who supporting the NPA’s organizations blindly supporting and enabling them are no better than the NPA terrorists.

“For robbing our youth of their innocence, and forcing them to live a life of hatred, of violence, of abuse, of fear, and of terror, for causing the pointless deaths of children in order to further their “Godless and soulless ideology.”

Gonzales calls on the people of Western Visayas and the entire nation to stand in solidarity against the NPA.

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, 16-year-old NPA fighter only identified by his alias as “Ka Kisap/Boyca” was killed in a gun battle with elements of the Army’s 15th Infantry Battalion in Candoni, Negros Occidental.

The Army responded in the town’s Barangay Gatuslao after receiving information that the NPA were allegedly engaging in extortion activities among the local populace.* (DGB)