16-year-old female NPA recruit yields in NegOcc

From the Visayan Daily Star (Jun 5, 2021): 16-year-old female NPA recruit yields in NegOcc (BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN)

A 16-year-old recruit of the New People’s Army gave herself up to the 94th Infantry Battalion, and this is another proof that the CPP-NPA had long been violating the laws on recruiting minors, regional police spokesperson, Lt. Col. Joem Malong, said yesterday.

Missing her childhood life made alias Monica surrender to the government, Malong said.

Alias Monica said she was a member of Squad 1 under the Central Negros 2, led by alias Ka “Karding”, of the Southwest Front Committee Command that operates in the area of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Malong added.

The minor, who surrendered to the 94IB on June 2, also said that she and her childhood friend, alias Alyssa, were both recruited by a certain “Ka Prior”, on August 10 last year.

Being minors and as new members of the armed group, alias Monica admitted that she and Alyssa were not allowed to carry firearms, but were tasked to cook during the operations of the NPA, Malong said.

‘NO FUTURE’

After nine miserable months of hardship she experienced with the CPP-NPA, “Monica” told the 94IB that she realized she has no future in the communist insurgency movement.

“I am tired. Living in the mountains was hard,” Monica, who had asked permission from her commander to return home because she missed her family, said.

When she got home last month, Malong said that Monica was encouraged by her family to surrender.

They sought the help of the 94IB, who turned her over to the Kabankalan City Police Station, to avail of the government’s Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program, Malong added. She is now under the care of the Kabankalan City Social Welfare and Development Office.

https://news.visayandailystar.com/16-year-old-female-npa-recruit-yields-in-negocc/