ANOTHER alleged child warrior was accompanied by two of his uncles to the headquarters of the 46th Infantry Battalion in Pantukan, Compostela Valley on Tuesday to facilitate his surrender.
The 14-year-old was reportedly used by the New People’s Army in planting bombs and landmines.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of 10th Infantry Division, said the relatives revealed that alias John was trained by the communist guerillas in improvised explosive devices targeting soldiers, police and other agents of the government.
However, the two uncles claimed that the teenager received threats from the NPA after he decided to distance himself from the rebel group.
John was turned over to the Pantukan PNP and will be transferred to the Department of Social Service and Development regional office for evaluation and custody.
It can be recalled that another “child soldier,” known as alias Dong, 14, was captured together with Ronel Paas alias Dondon, 35, at a checkpoint while escaping from an encounter with elements of 46IB at Sitio Post 4 of the same municipality last Feb. 9.
The two were wounded following a clash earlier that day. They were brought to a hospital in Pantukan where Paas died.
After initial treatment, Dong was evacuated to Camp Panacan Hospital and subsequently turned over to the care and protection of DSWD. He will require another surgery to take another bullet on his left leg.
Maj. Gen Rafael Valencia, 10th ID commander, reiterated his call to the remaining rebels to lay down their arms.
“The NPA should respect the rights of children to live normal and peaceful lives,” he said. “They should also respect international convention and protocols which provide that children shall neither be recruited in the armed forces or groups nor allowed to take part in hostilities.”
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