THE Commission on Human Rights (CHR) visited on Tuesday, October 8, the former New People’s Army (NPA) minor rebels in military camp in Barangay Poblacion, Impasugong, Bukidnon.
A dialogue was held between the CHR team and the former minor rebels with ages 17 and 18.
“They asked how we were recruited at a young age, I said to them (CHR) that the NPA promised to send me to school so I joined because my parents can’t afford my education,” Myjon, 17, was quoted as saying. Myjon is a former rebel who surrendered to the unit due to fatigue and fear for security.
Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Illana, the commanding officer of the 8th Infantry Battalion, meanwhile, urged other organizations to visit the ex-NPA child combatants to further investigate the abuses.
“Our unit is open to all organizations who wish to check and investigate incidents of abuses to our people, we are transparent on this matter,” he said.
“These children are a proof that they (NPA) are recruiting minors and this should be stopped; children should go to school, not to war,” he added.
The commission on Human rights is an independent constitutional office whose function is to investigate all forms of human rights violations in the country.
Illana said the 8th Infantry Battalion has assisted the former minor child combatants in filing legal cases against their recruiters for Violation of Republic Act 11188 also known as Special Protection for Children in Situations of Armed Act and RA 9851 Act Defining and Penalizing Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law.