NPA recruiting minors

The New People's Army is reportedly targeting minors in their recruitment operations in the mountain barangays of Cebu and other areas in the Visayas.

This was revealed in a press conference yesterday by Lt. Col. Oscar Lasangue, the group commander of the 3rd Civil Relations Group, Civil Relation Service, Central Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

This report was also confirmed by Cebu Police Provincial Office Director Vicente Loot who also received the information.

Lasangue said that NPA rebels are using several issues to convince minors to join their cause, among these is the issue of Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Lasangue called on parents to check the activities of their children, he added if recruited minors are caught and killed in encounters between the NPA and army, the rebels use the issue against the government.

Both the police and the military have no report yet on the number of minors who have enlisted with the rebels. - Gregg M. Rubio