The New People’s Army (NPA) is now using mass media to disseminate false information that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)is recruiting minors to be trained in combat operations, a top AFP official said on Friday.
Brigadier General Domingo Tutaan Jr., the AFP spokesman said that the accusation is farfetched from the reality because they are strict on this issue.
He said that the AFP only employ 18 years old and above in their ranks including the recruitment of Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU).
“We are not entertaining minors. We are very strict in recruiting soldiers as we only allow 18 years and above to join the AFP,” Tutaan told reporters at the weekly forum, Balitaan sa Hotel Rembrandt.
Although he admitted that there was an isolated case when two minors doctored their age in their resume to enable them to get jobs in the military to help their families.
“They were both 17 and as soon as we found out that there were minors, we immediately brought them back to their families and explained that AFP strictly follows the age limit requirement,” Tutaan explained.
According to the AFP spokesman, that incident gave those lessons that before they admit anyone applying to join the AFP, they always counter check the background of the applicant and check their certificate of live birth if it is authenticated.
He said that the NPA is fast losing supporters because they are now shifting to banditry and extortion activities as they set aside ideology which they are known for.
Tutaan said that NPAs are now using mass media to disseminate false information that it was the AFP that is recruiting minors despite the fact that they have proven in the past that it was the other way around.
“How can they disprove that several minors were killed in actual combat? Some of them were arrested during military operations,” Tutaan pointed out.
He said that this happened in the last decade and still, they continue to pollute the minds of minors in rebel-controlled areas.
The dead bodies of minors who were left behind by the NPA in several encounters only show that they are the one recruiting minors because the fathers and brothers were killed earlier in encounters.
The diminishing support of the local folks only shows that the AFP is winning in their campaign not only in combat operation but in promoting peace and development in the countryside.
“Their influence is waning as the government is winning the hearts of the people,” Tutaan stressed.
He added that for now, there are only 3,000 active rebels in the hinterlands already turning themselves to bandits as they abduct innocent civilians for money.
The rebels, the AFP said, are also engaged in robberies and protection rackets in several towns harassing businessmen.
He added that the AFP always get in touch with the Philippine National Police because this issue is already a police matter as they offer help if the need arises.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=536758
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