From GMA News (Jul 23): PNP: 12-year-old NPA rebel surrenders in Quezon
An alleged 12-year-old child warrior of the New People's Army surrendered to authorities in Quezon last week, the Philippine National Police said Monday.
An alleged 12-year-old child warrior of the New People's Army surrendered to authorities in Quezon last week, the Philippine National Police said Monday.
In a post on its news site, the PNP said the boy, who surrendered July 17, was a native of Nabua in Camarines Sur in Bicol.
But he supposedly joined the NPA unit operating in the third district of Quezon province when he was only nine years old, the PNP said.
The PNP said the boy surrendered to the Lopez town police and is now under the custody of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Lopez.
The PNP quoted the boy as saying he was recruited by the NPA when he was making charcoal in Lopez, Quezon after running away from home in 2010.
A United Nations report released in June 2013 said armed rebel groups including the NPA used child soldiers for their operations.
The report entitled "Grave Violations Committed Against Children in 22 Situations of Concern" also said the Armed Forces of the Philippines used child soldiers too.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said it is intensifying its monitoring system to make sure children are not exploited in armed conflict.