In line with its community development missions, the Davao City-based 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army has pledged to assist 87 out-of-school youths (OSYs) to finish high school under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) in cooperation with other stakeholders in Region 11.
To carry out the pledge, Major Gen. Ariel Bernardo, commander of the 10th ID, on Monday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Philippine National Police (PNP)- Region 11, Department of Education-Region 11, the
Bernardo said that his unit joined in this worthwhile cause for the benefit of young former New People's Army (NPA) rebels who have surrendered in his area of responsibility.
“We want to give them a chance to be reintegrated into society on an equal footing with their peers who have not been deceived to join the armed struggle. These youths have been robbed of their childhood and the opportunities in life afforded by education when the communist movement recruited them to join the armed struggle,” Bernardo added.
The NPA is the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). It is now on its 45th year of Maoist armed struggle.
The movement has been subject to a lot of criticisms for allegedly recruiting minor combatants. A 2010 United Nations report labelled the movement as one of the world’s most persistent violators.
The CPP still vehemently denies the accusation but it has been reinforced by more and more accounts from former rebels, including one NPA commander “Jinggoy” who, in his capture in 2010, revealed he was recruited at the age of 13.
Last Saturday in
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=610118
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