Lt. Col. Sisenando Magbalot Jr (center), commanding officer of Philippine Army's 61IB, reveals on Wednesday (Feb. 13, 2019) a minor New People's Army member surrendered to government troops on Tuesday due to extreme hardships and hunger in the mountains. (Photo by Ma. Leonora Estanque)
Extreme hardships and hunger in the mountains forced a 15-year-old girl member of the Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to turn herself in to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Capiz on Tuesday.
The girl identified only as “Regina” is from the Central Front in Tapaz, Capiz, and has been a member of the rebel group for more than two months, said Lt. Col. Sisenando Magbalot Jr., commanding officer of the Philippine Army's 61 Infantry Battalion (61st IB), in a media briefing on Wednesday.
He said “Regina” was recruited through her boyfriend, also a member of the group. At first, she was unaware of her boyfriend being a member of the NPA.
Magbalot said “Regina” served as a cook for their members. She was taught how to use a firearm but was never engaged in an encounter.
“Her parents where clueless at first that their daughter is already a part of the rebels but it was them who helped us to negotiate with 'Regina' to come down,” he added.
The surrenderer will still undergo validation as she is not on the list of CPP-NPA members.
“As the commander for the 61st IB, I want to have detachments on these barangays for the rebels not to come back,” he said.
The AFP emphasized the way to counter the recruitment, especially of the youth, is through awareness.
“We are trying to engage our school administrations. We will talk to them and have a dialogue together with the students for them to be aware,” said Capt. Eduardo Precioso Jr., chief of the 3rd Division Public Affairs Office.
Precioso added it is during the summer vacation that recruitment is rampant. The rebels are using immersions, camps, and on-the-job training to recruit students.
He also said that it is a duty and social responsibility to protect the students.
“We don't want our schools to be the platform of the rebels for their propaganda and recruitment. Hopefully, the schools will coordinate,” he added.
To instill awareness to the public about the rebels, the AFP will have future activities in the Community Support Programs areas. They will have free consultation, medical and dental missions and free haircut. This week they will conduct the activity in the province of Capiz.
The United States and the European Union have declared the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1061831
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