MANILA, Philippines—The New People’s Army (NPA) does not recruit child warriors or brutalize children caught up in its struggle with government forces, a leader of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) on self-exile in the Netherlands said yesterday.
The CPP was reacting to a United Nations report that included the NPA among armed groups around the world “that subject children to brutal violence, such as killings, maiming, rape, and other forms of sexual assault. The two other groups were the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which has issued a denial, and the Abu Sayyaf.
CPP official Fidel Agcaoili said the NPA “strictly abides by the policy of the CPP against the recruitment as combatants of children below 18.”
The NPA also protects children from physical and mental abuse as provided for under the Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, one of the documents guiding peace negotiations with the government, he added.
The 51-page report was prepared by Radhika Coomaraswamy, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon’s special representative for children in armed conflict. The UN Security Council will hold a debate on the matter this month. –Jerome Aning, Philippine Daily Inquirer
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
June 6: Migrant Workers Day
June 19: Filipino Youth Day
June 25: Day of the Filipino Seafarer
