Suspected NPA rebel rescued in Samar

TACLOBAN CITY –– A 17-year-old suspected member of the New People’s Army (NPA) was rescued by government forces in an armed battle with the rebels in Samar province.

The teen identified as “Ka Louie,” was abandoned by fleeing members of the NPA in Hinabangan, Samar, on November 3.

Colonel Camilo Ligayo, the commanding officer of the 801st Infantry Brigade, said an M16 rifle was recovered from the teen.

Since he is minor, Louie will undergo rehabilitation by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Based on the information given to them by the teenager’s parents, Ligayo said Louie left their home purportedly to work in Manila in June 2019.

“They just learned that their son joined the communist armed group,” Ligayo said.

“We, in the 8th ID, condemn the recruitment of minors by the communist terrorist group and we will observe the Geneva Convention and observe the rights of the children in its operation. The 8th ID is a professional organization that observes the rule of law in all its operations,” he added.

The military will investigate the incident to determine how many children are involved in the communist group.

Police Brigadier General Ariel Arcinas, deputy regional director for administration, said they would also find out who recruited the teenagers so that cases would be filed against them.

The use of the so-called “child warriors” has been dismissed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front in previous statements, saying that it was just another government propaganda.