LUPON, DAVAO ORIENTAL, July 22- Troops from 28th Infantry (KAMAGONG) Battalion recovered one (1) High Powered Firearm after the surrender of a minor NPA Milita in the town of Lupon last thursday.
A 16-year old minor known as alyas "Buboy" (True name hidden on purpose), a resident of Brgy Calapagan, Municipality of Lupon, voluntarily surrendered to the troops of 28IB deployed in the same barangay in the morning of July 16, 2020.
Upon verification of his identity, Buboy was later on confirmed as a Milbay (Militia ng Bayan) with the help of a former Rebel.
In an interview, said minor stated that he was recruited by alyas "Jhonny", the Commander of the weakened Guerilla Front 18 early this year. He acted initially as a courier of the group but was later on tasked to take up arms and be an NPA militia. He later on divulged an information that alyas Jhonny left a high powered firearm in his custody where he kept near the vicinity of their house at Sitio Yauri of the said barangay.
Acting upon this information, Lt. Col Alexander D. Banatao, 28th Intfantry Battalion commander together with the Philippine National Police immediately organized a team and conducted a joint retrieval operation wherein they recovered one (1) M16 rifle near the vicinity of alyas buboy's residence.
On the other hand, alyas buboy, in coordination with the Lupon Municipal Police Station, was immediately brought to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Lupon for proper documentation and intervention.
Alyas buboy however, with the consent from his guardian, signified to be placed under the custody of 28IB awaiting for his enrollment to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP).
Ltc Banatao has slammed the NPA's continous use of minors in their efforts to overthrow the government.
"Their (NPA) continous use and exploitation of minors for their terroristic activities is a gross violation of the children's rights. It is a clear manifestation of their desperation to replenish their ranks as their forces weakens because of successive encounters with the government forces." Lt. Col. Banatao said.
It can be recalled that just a few months ago, troops of 28IB were able to rescue a child in armed conflict after an ecounter with the Communist NPA Terrorists in a hinterland sitio of Barangay Maragatas of Lupon town. (RG Alama with reports from, 28th IB)
https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1048400
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