AFP: 19 NPA rebels surrender to military every month

From GMA News (Jul 25): AFP: 19 NPA rebels surrender to military every month

About 19 members of the New People’s Army based in Mindanao surrender to authorities monthly, most of them youngsters, the Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command revealed on Thursday.

“Nagbabalik-loob sila kasi ‘yung promise sa kanila ay hindi nangyayari,” Capt. Severino David, spokesperson at Eastern Mindanao Command, told GMA News Online in a phone interview.

He noted that those who surrendered had been lured to join the rebel group by promises of a better life. “Ang promise sa kanila gaganda ang kabuhayan nila sa barrio at bibigyan ng livelihood. Sumasali rin sila dahil sa poverty."

Those who surrender are usually aged 18 to 22 and minors when they were recruited, serving for an average of three years before surrendering to the authorities.

Once they surrender, former rebels undergo debriefing and seminars, David noted.

In a separate statement, the Eastern Mindanao Command disclosed that 132 NPA rebels have surrendered since January, averaging about 19 surrenders per month. The Eastern Mindanao Command covers Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Caraga Region.

The latest surrender in the region was reported on July 22, when four NPA rebels turned themselves in to government troops. They were identified as Digo Antian, alias Ruben, 23; Jun Jun Calimpit, alias Ryan, 25; Robert Antian, alias Lupoy, 18; and Jhen (his alias), 15. All of them had been operating in Bukidnon.

Antian and Jhen supposedly joined the NPA at the age of 16 and 13 years old, respectively.

“NPA capitalized [on] their desire to become soldiers when they were assured that they [could] hold a gun even without finishing school,” the statement read.

The rebels also handed over three high-powered firearms with assorted ammunitions and magazines.  These firearms will be remunerated for about P50,000 each.

“Binibili ng gobyerno yung mga baril kasi magagamit din naman namin ‘yan. Yun na rin ang nagiging panimula nila sa livelihood,” the Eastern Mindanao Command spokesperson said.

According to Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, recruiting the youth to join the insurgent group is a violation of the 1998 Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law.
“Exploiting the youth’s innocence to become criminals is even tantamount to violation of RA 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) which provides children with special protection against exploitation,” he said in the same statement.

Last Tuesday, a 12-year-old NPA rebel in Quezon province surrendered to the police.

However, the United Nations report noted that it is not just armed rebel groups that recruit minors but also the Philippine military. The report, entitled "Grave Violations Committed Against Children in 22 Situations of Concern," cited two young boys who were recruited by the military to help find a rebel camp in Mindanao.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/319160/news/nation/afp-19-npa-rebels-surrender-to-military-every-month