CAMP LUKBAN,
Catbalogan, Samar – Troops from 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion of
the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army rescued another band of
child warriors at Barangay 4 Poblacion, San Jose De Buan, Samar on
October 8, 2006 at 4:00 in the afternoon.
The rescue was an off
shot of information given by a Barangay resident about the presence of
three suspicious individuals roaming around the area. The troops
immediately verified the veracity of the information and yielded to
the rescue of new NPA recruits who are minors, namely: Judy Boy C.
Rebato alias Nene, 16 years old of Brgy Can-aponte, San Jose De Buan;
Ramil Mañoso alias Otoy, 18 years old and resident of Sitio Cadarangan,
Barangay Can-aponte, all members of the Lawin Platoon; and, Robert R.
Mabanan, 13 years old and a resident of Barangay San Nicolas, San Jose
De Buan and member of Dalogdog Platoon.
Last week, two (2)
female child warriors were rescued by the elements of 34th Infantry
Battalion in a far flung Sitio of Cabungahan, Barangay Tuturingon,
Catbalogan, Samar. Ms Luz Tacal, the Provincial DSWD Director of
Samar Province,
was immediately informed regarding the rescue of these minors.
MajGen. Rodrigo F.
Maclang, the Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division,
Philippine Army, is calling the local chief executives of the
municipalities where these child NPA recruits belong to extend their
support to these innocent children who are victims of the CPP/NPA’s
inhuman activities.
He said “I challenge
the so-called human rights advocates KARAPATAN-SB KATUNGOD to speak
out and condemn the CPP/NPA/NDF for deliberately recruiting children
into their ranks. Children have the rights to live a peaceful life and
should be spared from any armed conflict. They have grossly violated
the provisions of Comprehensive Agreement on Respect for Human Rights
and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL).
