Nineteen out of the 80 New People’s Army (NPA) rebels, who voluntarily surrendered last Monday to government authorities in Bukidnon province, were minors, bolstering the military’s claims that the communist group is recruiting child warriors.
Army 4th Infantry Division (ID) chief Maj. Gen. Victor Felix said Benjamin Salusad, alias Commander Nonong, admitted that some of his former fighters at the NPA’s Guerrilla Front-6 operating in North Central Mindanao were recruited as minors from tribal groups in Bukidnon.
“These revelations of Ka Nonong and
his followers only confirm and strengthen our previous reports that CPP/NPA/NDF (National Democratic Front) has been employing children in their organization,” he added.
“Our previous attempts to make this public were always met with their staunch denial that this communist organization has been victimizing minors ever since. Maybe with the help of Ka Nonong and with the testimony and affidavit of his companions, the public would finally know the truth,” Felix stressed.
The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA has repeatedly denied recruiting child warriors within its ranks.
Feliz said his command is exhausting all efforts to rescue other children who are still with the NPA employed as fighters, couriers, observers and messengers.
“These children have fallen victims and we are not going to stop our operations until we are able to rescue each of them from the claws of deception of the NPA,” said Felix.
According to Felix, the young rebels, whose age ranges from 10 to 18 years old, came from the Tigwahanon, Matigsalog and Manobo tribes from San Fernando, Bukidnon.
They were recruited by the NPA at a very young age. Some have been with the communist rebels for the last five months while others have been fighting for the group for about nine years already.
Last Monday, Salusad, tagged as the top NPA leader in Bukidnon, led 80 of his fighters in returning to the folds of the law, bringing along 25 high-powered firearms.
They cited inequality in the communist organization as reason for their surrender. –Mario J. Mallari, Daily Tribune
September 18 –
International Equal Pay Day
“Increase wages now,
more than other cost items.
For widespread, practical equality!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
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September –
5 Sept – Intl Day of Charity
7 Sept – Intl Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies
8 Sept – International Literacy Day
12 Sept – United Nations Day for South-South Cooperation
15 Sept – International Day of Democracy
16 Sept – International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
17 Sept – World Patient Safety Day
18 Sept – International Equal Pay Day
21 Sept – International Day of Peace
26 Sept – International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
27 Sept – World Tourism Day
28 Sept – International Day for Universal Access to Information
29 Sept – International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste
30 Sept – World Maritime Day
Monthly Observances:
Health, Safety and Sanitation Month
National Clean-up Month
Civil Service Month
National Peace Consciousness Month
Social Security Month
Rule of Law Month
National Teachers’ Month (Sept 5-Oct 4)
Weekly Observances:
Sept 17 – 23:
World Clean and Green Week
Week 2: Education Week
Week 4: Medicine Week
Last Week: National Family Week
Daily Observances:
Third Saturday:
International Coastal Clean-up Day
Third Monday: World Health Day
Last Friday: National Maritime Day
Sept 8: National Literacy Day
Sept 15: Philippine Medicine Day
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