Army hails ‘courage’ of teener in confessing to rape by NPA leader

TACLOBAN CITY—A 20-year-old woman filed a complaint of rape against an alleged communist rebel leader for the sexual assault of her 17-year-old sister in a case which the military bannered as a confirmation of recruitment of minors by the rebels.

The complaint was filed against Paterno Opong, supposedly a leader of a New People’s Army (NPA) unit known as Levox that operates in Leyte and Biliran provinces.

The woman, in her complaint on Thursday (Oct. 29), asked the provincial prosecutor’s office of Leyte to investigate the accusation against Opong.

According to the complaint, the girl was raped sometime in July 2018, just months after she was recruited to the NPA, armed wing of Communist Party of the Philippines, by Opong.

Since she was still a minor, her 20-year-old sister stood as complainant in the case.

The two sisters were rescued by the members of the 14th Infantry Battalion last July 12 at the village of Pinamunuan in Mahaplag town, Leyte as they were escaping from the rebels.

During interrogation by the military, the girl claimed she was raped by Opong, who warned that she would be tortured and raped if she turned herself in to soldiers.

The sisters are now in the custody of the Army’s 802nd Infantry Brigade based in Ormoc City.

“I admire her courage in confessing her horrible experience though it may degrade her reputation and dignity as a woman,” said Brig. Gen. Zosimo Oliveros, commanding officer of the 802nd IB.

“This confirms the blatant and persistent recruitment of minors within the communist terrorist organization,” Oliveros said.

TSB