From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 12, 2020): NPA member, minor combatant-son yield to Army in Negros (By Nanette Guadalquiver)
SURRENDER. Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, commander of 94th Infantry Battalion, is shown before he receives a .30-caliber Springfield sniper rifle from 16-year-old alias “Jacking”, a former combatant of the New People’s Army assigned as medical officer of Sentro De Gravidad Platoon of Central Negros Front 2. Together with his father, who turned over a .38-caliber pistol, the boy surrendered to the 94IB troops on Oct. 9, 2020. (Photo courtesy of 94th Infantry Battalion, Philippine Army)
A member of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) Yunit Militia and his minor son from Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental yielded to the Philippine Army troops in central Negros on October 9.
On Monday, their surrender was confirmed by the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB), but their identities were withheld for security and safety seasons.
According to the 94IB, the 40-year-old rebel surrendered with his 16-year-old son to ensure the safety of the minor, following their involvement in the series of encounters with government troops in the hinterlands of Himamaylan and neighboring Binalbagan town and Kabankalan City.
The father, known as alias “Joker”, turned over a .38-caliber pistol while his son, alias “Jacking”, handed a .30-caliber Springfield sniper rifle to Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, commander of 94IB.
The boy, who was recruited by the NPA when he was only 11, was assigned as a medical officer of Sentro De Gravidad Platoon of Central Negros Front 2.
He was part of a communist-terrorist group that clashed with the troops of 94IB in Sitio Tugas, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City on April 20 this year. The encounter claimed the lives of 2nd Lt. Ralf Amante Abibico and two other soldiers.
During his surrender, the boy told the 94IB that their unit also suffered casualties during the clash, but they were able to bring the bodies away while withdrawing from the encounter site.
Alias “Joker” said he doesn’t want to see his young son die as he wants him to fulfill his dreams.
Guzman told the Philippine News Agency that “Joker” has six children, and “Jacking” is the third among them.
He said that the surrenderer also has a six-month-old child, who is sick and confined in a hospital, and “Joker” was able to visit the infant on Sunday night.
“The battalion will facilitate the application of father and son to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” Guzman said.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Noel Baluyan, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade, condemned the CPP-NPA for recruiting child-soldiers, which is against the principles of the International Humanitarian Law and laws pertaining to the protection of children in the armed conflict.
“Children, like alias ‘Jacking’ and many others like him, do not belong in the war zones. They do not deserve to live in violence and fear. They belong in the safety of their homes and communities. They belong in schools that would educate them so they will have a bright future,” Baluyan said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118219
On Monday, their surrender was confirmed by the 94th Infantry Battalion (IB), but their identities were withheld for security and safety seasons.
According to the 94IB, the 40-year-old rebel surrendered with his 16-year-old son to ensure the safety of the minor, following their involvement in the series of encounters with government troops in the hinterlands of Himamaylan and neighboring Binalbagan town and Kabankalan City.
The father, known as alias “Joker”, turned over a .38-caliber pistol while his son, alias “Jacking”, handed a .30-caliber Springfield sniper rifle to Lt. Col. Angelo Guzman, commander of 94IB.
The boy, who was recruited by the NPA when he was only 11, was assigned as a medical officer of Sentro De Gravidad Platoon of Central Negros Front 2.
He was part of a communist-terrorist group that clashed with the troops of 94IB in Sitio Tugas, Barangay Carabalan, Himamaylan City on April 20 this year. The encounter claimed the lives of 2nd Lt. Ralf Amante Abibico and two other soldiers.
During his surrender, the boy told the 94IB that their unit also suffered casualties during the clash, but they were able to bring the bodies away while withdrawing from the encounter site.
Alias “Joker” said he doesn’t want to see his young son die as he wants him to fulfill his dreams.
Guzman told the Philippine News Agency that “Joker” has six children, and “Jacking” is the third among them.
He said that the surrenderer also has a six-month-old child, who is sick and confined in a hospital, and “Joker” was able to visit the infant on Sunday night.
“The battalion will facilitate the application of father and son to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program,” Guzman said.
In a statement, Brig. Gen. Noel Baluyan, commander of 302nd Infantry Brigade, condemned the CPP-NPA for recruiting child-soldiers, which is against the principles of the International Humanitarian Law and laws pertaining to the protection of children in the armed conflict.
“Children, like alias ‘Jacking’ and many others like him, do not belong in the war zones. They do not deserve to live in violence and fear. They belong in the safety of their homes and communities. They belong in schools that would educate them so they will have a bright future,” Baluyan said.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1118219
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