The government has denounced the communist rebel group for recruiting child soldiers in their armed struggle, saying such war crime is “highly unjustifiable and abominable.”
Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the exploitation of children was also “highly immoral” since it robs them of their future.
Andanar issued the statement after the communist rebel killed in a recent clash with government troops turned out to be the missing 16-year-old student from Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. The body of Litboy Talja Binongcasan was reportedly recovered by the troops following the encounter with the New People’s Army last Nov. 30 in Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.
“We strongly condemn the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army’s recruitment and use of child soldiers for their armed conflict. Such as in the instance when the 23rd Infantry Battalion encountered and identified a killed insurgent as 16-year old boy Litboy Talja Binongcasan,” Andanar said.
“Under the International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, states and non-state armed groups must observe the prohibition of recruiting and using children in armed conflicts. To do so, amounts to and constitutes a war crime that is highly unjustifiable and abominable,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)