Military scores NPA for using minors as fighters,shields

ANGELES CITY — The Armed Forces Northern Luzon Command (Nolcom) has confirmed that the New People’s Army (NPA) has been recruiting underaged youths, including girls, as combatants.

This, after soldiers from the 17th Infantry Battalion captured two girls, aged 13 and 15, during a "fierce encounter" with NPA rebels in Barangay Carupian in Baggao, Cagayan last Jan. 21.

Two other rebels were killed during the clash, while two soldiers were wounded, Nolcom said.

Nolcom chief Lt. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos identified the NPA "amazons as Rosemarie Tomas, 13, and Ana Quintos, 15, who were both bleeding in their right thighs when soldiers from the 17th IB under 2nd Lt. Johnny Calub and militiaman Jong Ramos captured them. Both girls are residents of Carupian.

He said that the armed clash also killed NPA rebels identified as Alvin Fuentes of Cordon, Isabela and Edralyn Gudoy of Barangay Bunogan, Baggao, Cagayan. Pfc. John Pagtud and Pfc. Jomar Balcia were slightly wounded during the 20-minute firefight, he added.

Ramos condemned the NPA’s use of minors especially girls. "These children should be in school acquiring education not combat experience," he said, adding that the girls were also allegedly used as "bullet shields" by the fleeing rebels.

"I pity the two girls for being drawn into a lost ideology, but it’s not too late for them to reform their lives," he said, as he vowed to give them protection and other forms of government assistance.

Military records show that as of October 2000, at least 86 child combatants, between 14 and 17 have been captured or surrendered to the government since 1999. By June 2000, the military has documented the recruitment of some 123 minors.

The military has cited Point 1 of Principle II of the basic rules of the NPA issued in 1969 as saying that "anyone who is physically fit, regardless of age, sex, race, nationality or religion and has the capacity to fight and ready to participate in a protracted armed struggle against the reactionary state power, may be a member of a fighting unit of the New Peoples Army."

Moreover, the military’s Northern Luzon Command yesterday condemned what it claims is the continued use of minors as combatants of the New People’s Army, following the capture of two teenaged girls in a recent encounter in Barangay Carupian in Baggao town in Cagayan.

Lt. Gen. Bonifacio Ramos, NOLCOM chief said the two young amazons, aged 13 and 15, were left by their comrades after being wounded in the said clash with Army and militiamen.

Ramos said that after they recover at the hospital, they would be given assistance by the government for them to be able to go back to the mainstream society and live normal lives.