2 NPA child warriors rescued

By Maj. FELIX M. MANGYAO, (INF) PA
October 7, 2006

CAMP LUKBAN, Catbalogan, Samar  – Elements of Alpha Company, 34th Infantry Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army has rescued two (2) female child warriors and accepted the surrender of a Communist Terrorists (CTs) amazon at Sitio Cabungahan, Tuturingon, Catbalogan, Samar on October 4, 2006 at around 10:20 a.m.

In a report submitted to Maj. Gen. Rodrigo Maclang, Commanding General, 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army by Lt. Col. Glorivine Dida, Commanding Officer of 34IB he said that while his troops was conducting combat operations in the hinterland Barangays of Cagutian and Tuturingon all of Catbalogan, Samar they chanced upon a group of three (3) suspicious looking women.

Immediately, the troops courteously accosted the group and inquired as to their identities. In the course of questioning, it was found out that one of them is an old CT Amazon and the other two are (2) female CT recruits.

One of the two minors rescued was identified as Lynlyn Labitag y Jabon alias Mary Jane, 12 years old and a resident of Brgy Piña, Catbalogan, Samar. Accordingly, she was forced by her father (CT Floro Labitag) to join the underground movement. Her father was a member of the Arnulfo Ortiz Command of Central Front Samar – 1, Samar Provincial Party Committee of CPP-NPA.

The other minor warrior was identified as Erma Labong y Cabarles alias Jessa/Queen/Liz, 16 years old and a resident of Brgy Calundan, San Jorge, Samar. Erma alleged that she was recruited by a certain alias Tito to join the underground movement at her very young age in exchange of a brighter future and a challenging job of serving the people.

The other CT amazon was identified as Aileen Pajares y Romana alias Ami, 32 years old, a resident of Brgy. Cawayan Catbalogan, Samar, a member of BATER Platoon. She narrated the hardship while in the underground movement being a mother of four (4) children. Her husband is also an active member of the New Peoples Army. She surrendered one cal. 45 pistol with magazines and ammunitions, communist documents, extortion letters addressed to big time businessmen and a list of IRA collections from the Local Government Units and personal belongings.