Kalinaw News: CHR-X: NPAs in MisOr, guilty of recruitment of child soldiers

Posted to Kalinaw News (Feb 22, 2022): CHR-X: NPAs in MisOr, guilty of recruitment of child soldiers



CLAVERIA, Misamis Oriental – The Commission on Human Rights Region X (CHR X) recently confirmed findings of Human Rights Violation, specifically on Grave Child Rights Violation (GCRV) against the New People’s Army (NPA) in Misamis Oriental.

Mr. Reynaldo M. Saligan, of Sulong Peace, reported two cases of CRGV to the CHR, stating that the members of the NPA in Misamis Oriental recruited minors from the municipalities of Claveria and Lagonglong, who surrendered to the 58th Infantry Dimalulupig Battalion in November 2020.

On November 6, 2020, it can be recalled that alias May, a 16-year-old girl from Lagonglong, voluntarily surrendered to 58IB after failed promises by the armed group to May, as well as starvation and loneliness. Prior to recruitment, she was studying in a public school at Lagonglong, but she was unable to finish her studies due to the deception and manipulation of the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs), who promised her a better future for her family if she joined their armed struggle.

Meanwhile, just days after the surrender of Alias May, a group of 12 NPA rebels surrendered on November 8, 2020, eight of whom were still minors at the time of recruitment, sometime in 2016. Hardship and hunger were the main reasons for this group’s surrender.

“The minor victims decided to return to the mainstream and surrendered to the government in November 2020 as their lives became unbearable being part of the rebel group where their lives and safety were not assured,” said Lt Col Ricky L Canatoy, Commanding Officer, 58IB. Instead of exercising their rights as children, they served in the NPA as squad leaders, medics, supply officers, and members, all of whom held dangerous positions and performed life-threatening tasks.

As stated in the resolution by the CHR-X, “The legal basis for grave child rights violations lies in relevant international laws such as international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international criminal law.” The recruitment or use of children is the first identified GCRV. The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict have been incorporated into our domestic laws and, likewise, we consider these acts to be grave child rights violations. In this case, the alleged crime committed by the armed group, the NPA, was the recruitment and use of children. Recruitment refers to the compulsory, forced, or voluntary conscription or enlistment of children into the governmental armed force or forced or voluntary membership into the armed group. “

“The nine victims herein were considered children involved in armed conflict (CIAC) as they were recruited when they were still below 18 years old and therefore considered children. As they were recruited and used by the armed group in the context of armed conflict, the nine children are victims of grave child rights violations (GCRVs). Regardless of their recruitment, whether voluntary or forced, they were recruited and used to take part in the hostilities by the NPA, an armed group that is clearly a violation of the law, both domestic and international. “

As an active member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) of the UN Country Task Force for Monitoring and Reporting (CTFRM) of grave child rights violations, the CHR X has reported these two cases of GCRV to the Child Rights Center of CHR.

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