A FATHER and his 16-year-old son, who identified themselves as participants in the communist armed struggle in Barangay Buenavista, Himamaylan City, surrendered to the 94th Infantry Battalion, 3ID, Philippine Army on October 9.
The surrenderers were identified by the Army as alias Joker, 40, a member of the Yunit Militia, and his son, Jacking, a medical officer for the Sentro De Gravidad (SDG) Platoon of the Central Negros Front 2.
Joker surrendered with him a caliber .38 revolver, while Jacking yielded a caliber .30 Springfield sniper rifle.
The real names of the surrenderers are withheld for security, safety, and privacy of the minor, the Army said.
The Army said that Joker revealed that the series of encounters and the relentless combat operations of the 94IB in the hinterlands of Himamaylan City, Binalbagan and Kanbankalan City against the communist-terrorists forced him to surrender for fear of his son's safety.
"I know that the Army will catch up with them pretty soon and I can't afford to see my young son die. He deserves to realize his ambitions in life," said Joker.
Jacking was recruited when he was only 11 years old. He was with the rebel group that engaged in the fierce firefight with the 94IB on April 19, 2020 in Sitio Tugas, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City where Second Lieutenant Ralf Amante Abibico and two soldiers died.
He said his former rebel unit suffered casualties during that encounter but were able to carry their cadavers with them.
Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Guzman, 94IB commander, said the battalion will facilitate the application of Joker and his son to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-Clip).
"Children, like Jacking and many others like him, do not belong in the warzones. They do not deserve to live in violence and fear. They belong in the safety of their homes and communities. They belong in schools that would educate them so they have a brighter future. We condemn the CNT's recruitment of child soldiers consistent with the principles of the International Humanitarian Law and Laws pertaining to the protection of children in the armed conflict," said 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander Brigadier General Noel Baluyan.