Teen rebel accuses NPA leader of molesting her

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - An 18-year-old woman, a former New People's Army (NPA) rebel, complained to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) that she was molested twice by their ranking leader when she was 15 and 16 years old.

The woman, known as "Ka Shayna," told CHR provincial chief Romeo Baldevarona in an interview at the police station in Toboso town of Negros Occidental on Saturday, that when she was 15, she was allegedly molested by Joselito Danoso, a leader of the NPA unit with a codename "TMX," at their harboring area in sitio Dogma of Brgy. Malatas in Calatrava town.

Shayna, whose real name is being withheld by the police, said the alleged second molestation by Danoso took place at a forested area of sitio Odiong in Brgy. Bandila of Toboso town, when she was 16 years old. In all the molestations, she was allegedly drugged by Danoso, she said.

The victim, a niece of a Toboso barangay captain, said she was recruited by Danoso to join the NPA at the age of 12, but serving the revolutionary movement for almost six years turned out to be a nightmare for her after she was molested.

Her father, who also served as a staff member of the revolutionary movement party branch engaged in organizing activities, was aware of her ordeal, but they were helpless, since the perpetrator was their own leader, said Shayna.

She said after almost six years of serving the rebel movement, she became a candidate member of the Communist Party of the Philippines medical staff and for finance and logistic officer, aside from undergoing basic military training, when she was 15.

The victim recounted Saturday her harrowing ordeal to the CHR, and told Baldevarona she was willing to put her testimonies into sworn statements.

Lieutenant Col. Eduardo Gubat, 62nd Infantry Battalion commander, said they are now helping Shayna and the children of other rebel returnees in the pursuit of their studies, and livelihood opportunities, in coordination with local government units and the provincial government of Negros Occidental.

Shayna made the revelations at the CHR together with six other former rebels who surrendered to the government troops. She added that seven minors-four of them female she identified only through their aliases as Jessa, May, Shai and Nene-remain with the NPA in northern Negros.

Danoso told them it was better to recruit minors because they can easily understand the politics inside the revolutionary movement, Shayna said.

Baldevarona said the recruitment of minors by the NPA was a clear violation of human rights, and a criminal offense, which the CHR will investigate.

The NPA, however, has repeatedly denied claims that minors were being recruited into the revolutionary movement.