A 17-YEAR-OLD member of the New People’s Army (NPA) surrendered to the troops of the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB) of the Philippine Army while they were conducting community support program in Barangay Tacpao in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental on Tuesday, January 29.
The male teenager, a resident of Barangay Binobohan, Guihulngan City, claimed he is a member of the NPA under Squad 1 Sentro De Grabidad in Central Negros operating in the area of Guihulngan City, a press release from the Army said.
He said that he was part of the group that harassed troops stationed at Tacpao village on January 19, but he denied the rebel group's allegations that there were 12 casualties on the government side during the incident.
He, instead, said three members of the NPA were wounded and left their personal belongings during the incident.
Brigadier General Ignacio Madriaga, commander of the 302nd Infantry Brigade, reiterated that the recruitment of minors initiated by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA terrorists is a clear violation of human rights and International Humanitarian Law.
“Even if they keep on denying it, it only shows how they put the lives of these children to danger,” he said.
“Considering his situation, he will undergo psycho-social and stress debriefing to gradually welcome him to the mainstream society. It is one way of proving wrong to the lies of the NPA leaders who keep telling their members not to surrender,” he said.
“Again, the truth will set us free from the lies and propaganda of the NPAs that put not just the lives of many minors in danger, but also destroyed the lives of our fellow Negrenses,” he added.
He called on the NPA members to surrender for them to regain their normal lives and have a better future together with their family. (GYM)