The teenager gave himself up on May 18 to Lieutenant Colonel Joel Benedict Batara, commanding officer of the Philippine Army’s 61st Infantry Battalion (61IB) based in Miag-ao, Iloilo. He was accompanied by his parents and barangay officials.
The lad was a resident of Sibalom, Antique and a member of NPA Panay’s Suyak Platoon, Southern Front Committee.
According to Batara, the teenager was recruited to the underground movement early this year and took part in a rebel assault of government troops in Sitio Anoy, Barangay Cabalaunan, Miag-ao, Iloilo on April 18, 2020.
“Our surrenderee had a chance to escape from the NPA during the encounter. He revealed they suffered from hunger in the mountains,” said Batara.
The teenager went home and, together with his parents, sought the help of their barangay officials for a peaceful surrender.
Early this May, a 20-year-old lad also surrendered to the 61IB. He said he was an NPA member and was present, too, in the rebel group’s encounter with government troops in Miag-ao.
The young man was a resident of Miag-ao and was accompanied by his mother and barangay officials during the surrender.
“He joined the rebels in February this year. He was fetching water when armed men approached him and offered an education scholarship if he went with them,” said Batara.
The young man accepted the offer thinking he would be able to continue his studies.
“But he and other recruits were surprised to be handed out guns for tactical offensives against government troops,” said Batara.
During the encounter in Sitio Anoy, the young man was assigned as a perimeter security.
“But when he had the chance, he escaped from the group, leaving behind his firearm. He went home straight,” said Batara.
https://www.panaynews.net/hunger-drives-teen-rebel-to-surrender/
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