Military claims proof of NPA ‘child warriors’
Source: Inquirer MANILA, Philippines – Months after an international human rights group slammed them for allegedly fabricating stories of child recruits in the New People’s Army rebel group, the Armed Forces of the Philippines claimed that they have proof disproving these accusations. In an interview with Colonel Arnulfo Burgos, Armed Forces of the Philippines spokesman, he said that 19 of the 80 rebel returnees who surrendered in Bukidnon earlier this week were minors. Burgos said the “former NPA rebels” were from 10 to 18 years old. Others who surrendered were 19 years old and have been with the rebel ranks for more than five years. “This only validates and confirms the recruitment of children in the armed conflict which is against the law. This shows that they continue to exploit children,” Burgos said. He added that military records showed that between the years 2000 to 2010, the NPA rebel group recruited at least 340 minors and were used in the