Dela Rosa wants probe on recruitment of minors to leftist groups

MANILA, Philippines — Neophyte senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa is pushing for the investigation of missing minors allegedly recruited as members and fighters by leftist groups.

Dela Rosa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs and Committee on National Security and Defense, recently filed Resolution No. 38 which called for a probe on the said case.

“There was an alarming report that communist terrorists are recruiting minors as their fighters as young as 10 years old,” Dela Rosa said Tuesday in a statement.

“Same news report also claimed that the communist group has been doing this for decades but their recruitment efforts were intensified now because their armed group have been depleted due to frequent clash with government troops,” he added.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año recently condemned the New People’s Army (NPA) for allegedly recruiting minors and urged the youth to watch out for lies from the left-leaning rebels.

READ: Youth told to ditch NPA recruitment and get into sports, arts instead

Dela Rosa said parents of the missing children who were allegedly recruited by left-leaning organizations recently visited his office to air their plight.

An investigation, Dela Rosa said, can ensure the protection and welfare of the children.

“We really wanted to know the real score behind this issue. An investigation on this case could ferret out the truth and in the end we could also recommend actions that will ensure the peace in the country as well as protect and preserve the welfare of our children,” Dela Rosa said. /je