AN ARMY official said the New People’s Army (NPA) is recruiting children to augment its dwindling number of combatants.
This, as a rebel returnee who surrendered revealed that the communist armed group is recruiting children as young as 12 years old.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, the spokesperson of the army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the NPA recently recruited a certain Rea, a 13-year-old Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) athlete.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, the spokesperson of the army’s 10th Infantry Division, said the NPA recently recruited a certain Rea, a 13-year-old Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) athlete.
Davis was separated from her family when communist guerrillas recruited her last Jan. 30 in Buso, a mountain barangay of Mati City, Davao Oriental.
Batchar said they only knew of Davis’ recruitment when the girl’s mother sought their help.
The mother said she went to the neighboring town and was gone for a week. When she returned home, she learned that the NPA recruited her youngest daughter.
Accordingly, the girl was reportedly taken by Evelyn Hermocilla, who goes by the aliases Kara and Riza, said to be a leader of Section Committee 18, Sub-Regional Committee 2 of NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Command.
The mother pleaded to the NPA to return her daughter but to no avail.
She said Hermocilla refused to return the girl “because she doesn’t want to go home.” Hermocilla reportedly told the mother that the girl threatened to commit suicide should she be forced to return to her family.
Residents reported seeing the girl crying while traveling with the NPA. They said the girl wanted to go home but was prevented by the rebels.
In connection with the incident, a total of 101 families in four areas of Buso were evacuated last Feb. 8 to avoid NPA atrocities and recruitment. Based on the Mati voluntary evacuation report from Councilor Gingging Tiago, the affected sitios were Kasunugan, Tampat, Cabucanan and Kawitan.
The army, under Col. Reuben Basiao of the 701st Infantry Brigade, and the barangay, under village head Lolito Andan, returned the evacuees to their communities two days later as military assured their safety.
During the ceremony, Basiao appealed to the residents to cooperate to hasten the recovery of the young Davis.
Rebel returnee identified as ka Junnie told reporters that they were recruiting teenagers as young as 12 to pump new blood for the armed group.
Batchar said they only knew of Davis’ recruitment when the girl’s mother sought their help.
The mother said she went to the neighboring town and was gone for a week. When she returned home, she learned that the NPA recruited her youngest daughter.
Accordingly, the girl was reportedly taken by Evelyn Hermocilla, who goes by the aliases Kara and Riza, said to be a leader of Section Committee 18, Sub-Regional Committee 2 of NPA’s Southern Mindanao Regional Command.
The mother pleaded to the NPA to return her daughter but to no avail.
She said Hermocilla refused to return the girl “because she doesn’t want to go home.” Hermocilla reportedly told the mother that the girl threatened to commit suicide should she be forced to return to her family.
Residents reported seeing the girl crying while traveling with the NPA. They said the girl wanted to go home but was prevented by the rebels.
In connection with the incident, a total of 101 families in four areas of Buso were evacuated last Feb. 8 to avoid NPA atrocities and recruitment. Based on the Mati voluntary evacuation report from Councilor Gingging Tiago, the affected sitios were Kasunugan, Tampat, Cabucanan and Kawitan.
The army, under Col. Reuben Basiao of the 701st Infantry Brigade, and the barangay, under village head Lolito Andan, returned the evacuees to their communities two days later as military assured their safety.
During the ceremony, Basiao appealed to the residents to cooperate to hasten the recovery of the young Davis.
Rebel returnee identified as ka Junnie told reporters that they were recruiting teenagers as young as 12 to pump new blood for the armed group.
Ka Junnie, a Lumad from Davao Oriental, said he joined the underground movement about seven months ago as he was convinced that the armed group was waging war to achieve a “real” government.
He was assigned to the Guerilla Front 15 operating in the areas of Manay and Caraga, both in Davao Oriental.
He was assigned to the Guerilla Front 15 operating in the areas of Manay and Caraga, both in Davao Oriental.
Ka Junnie was among the rebels that clashed with the troopers of the 67th Infantry Battalion led by the 2Lt. Victor Alejo who died during the encounter earlier this month in Manay.
Based on the records of 10th Infantry Division, 13 NPA guerrillas already surrendered to the authorities.
Based on the records of 10th Infantry Division, 13 NPA guerrillas already surrendered to the authorities.
http://mindanaotimes.net/npa-recruits-girl-13/
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