DAVAO CITY, 22 June — Civilian groups should condemn the recruitment of child warriors by the New People’s Army (NPA), a military commander has urged.
The use of child warriors is a violation of international and local laws on children’s rights, Lt. Col. Eduardo del Rosario, commander of the Philippine Army’s 73rd Infantry Battalion, was quoted by a community paper Mindanao Times as saying.
Del Rosario said children are easy prey to rebels because of poverty and lack of education. The officer made the suggestion following the surrender of 12-year-old boy rebel Ronald A. Ponce to villages officials at Marilog district in this southern city last month. Ponce was being groomed as a replacement of Ka Michelle who was also rescued the same time last month, said del Rosario.
Ponce, who only completed Grade II and who dreamed of becoming a soldier one day, was reportedly promised an M16 rifle and education.
The Mindanao Times said Ronald is the third of five siblings, four of which are girls.
After quitting school, he helped his parents plant corn.
When he joined the rebels, he was indeed allowed to handle an assault rifle and was taught the basics of communism instead of the promised education.
After less than two months with the movement, he fled and sought safety in the house of a village official.
“I feared for my family, they (rebels) said they would skin them,” the boy was quoted as saying during a press conference called by the military.
Del Rosario said the boy will be turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and the army will file charges against the NPA recruiters.
