SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. The contraceptive pills, condoms, and porn materials recovered by government forces inside a New People's Army hideout in Barangay Kibongkog, San Fernando, Bukidnon on October 22 this year. Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal, chief of the Army's 4th Infantry Division, has called on female NPA members to surrender to avoid becoming sex slaves of their leaders in the communist rebel movement. (Photo courtesy of the Army's 4th Infantry Division)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY -- The chief of Army's 4th Infantry Division (4ID) has called on remaining female New People's Army (NPA) members to surrender to avoid becoming sex slaves of the communist rebel movement.
Maj. Gen. Franco Nemesio Gacal issued the call on Monday in line with the 18-day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) organized by the Philippine Commission on Women.
Gacal said that for 50 years, NPA commanders have been violating their female combatants.
"They must respect the rights of our women and stop treating them as sex slaves," he said.
Gacal urged female NPA combatants to surrender "in order to be saved from sexual abuses."
"Together with the government, we will ensure that the female former rebels undergo the healing and reconciliation process through the help of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) and other concerned government agencies for them to recover emotionally and psychologically and prepare them to return to mainstream society,” the 4ID commanding general said.
The 18-day Campaign to End VAW is observed from November 25 to December 12 every year to raise awareness on women's rights. This year’s observance is anchored on the theme “VAW-free community starts with me."
According to Gacal, 4ID has recorded cases of sexual exploitations against female NPA members perpetrated by their senior male cadres.
4ID cited the case of alias Wilma, 20, a former NPA medic from Magpet, North Cotabato, who revealed her experience as a victim of sexual abuse from an NPA commander.
“I joined the NPA because I am against sexual abuse and female exploitation. However, our NPA commander sexually abused us and neglected our rights as women,” Wilma was quoted as saying.
Alias Saisai, 32, also former NPA medic from Agusan del Norte was also raped by his NPA commander, 4ID said. Saisai evetually got pregnant but suffered miscarriage due to stress and hardships in the mountain.
"I was raped and threatened that he will kill my husband if I will inform the committee. I wanted to kill him for repeatedly abusing me sexually, he should be executed by death. I went lie-low due to sexual abuses and injustices in the NPA organization” Saisai was quoted by the Army as saying.
According to 4ID, sexual abuses were also confirmed when the troops of the Army's 88IB based in Maramag, Bukidnon recovered some contraceptive pills, condoms, and porn materials inside an NPA hideout in the forested area of Barangay Kibongkog, San Fernando, Bukidnon on October 22 this year.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1086459
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