Child warrior in landmine blast nabbed

A 15-YEAR-OLD suspected member of the New People's Army (NPA) was arrested Monday for allegedly taking part in a landmine attack against government troops in North Cotabato, an Army official said Tuesday.

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The minor has been turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development office in the province "for safekeeping," Colonel Alejandro Estomo, chief of the Army's 602nd Brigade, said.

Estomo said the boy was among the communist rebels who detonated a landmine on a military vehicle in Barangay Bulatukan, Makilala town in North Cotabato on Monday afternoon.

The targets were members of the 62nd Division Reconnaissance Company of the Army's 6th Infantry Division. No one was hurt in the incident, but the military vehicle was damaged, Estomo said.

Estomo also condemned the rebel group's use of minors in its operations.

"[The] use of children and minors in armed conflict is condemned by international law, especially in the law of warfare and human rights," he said.

Military forces are still conducting pursuit operations for other suspects in the landmine blast, said Estomo.

The attack against the 62nd DRC was the second since January this year.

On January 26, seven of their soldiers were hurt when hit by a landmine allegedly planted by insurgents operating in the hinterlands of Makilala and Magpet towns in North Cotabato. (Malu Cadelina Manar)