Mindanao politicians use teenagers as bodyguards

MANILA, Philippines – Children between the ages of 12 and 14 act as armed bodyguards for politicians in Mindanao, a Muslim youth leader revealed yesterday.

“I went around one of the provinces in central Mindanao recently to look for a mosque to pray, and then I saw these armed children, mostly 12 to 14 years old, who are working for a local government official as bodyguards,” Revi Sani, a member of the Philippine karate team and a multi-awarded Muslim youth leader from Marawi City, told The STAR.

“Instead of being given proper education, these kids are being exposed to danger. Instead of holding pens and books, they are holding high-powered pistols and rifles. How can they match the police or the soldiers who are trained in combat? They should be saved otherwise they would die early.”

Sani, son of Sultan Punduma Sani, one of the founders of the Moro National Liberation Front in the 1970’s, said these children are being lured to work as bodyguards for politicians because of the lack of alternative channels where they could use their youthful energy. 

“As young boys, we are naturally adventurous,” he said. “We only have to give them the right alternative such as sports.”

Sani, who was a recipient of the Outstanding Young Muslim Award from the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Center for Moderate Muslims in 2004 and 2005, said if these children are not given proper education, they would never realize that they have great potentials.

“They would be like eagle eggs that landed on the chicken’s nest,” he said. 

“When they were hatched, they grew up as chickens. They never found out that they are eagles that can soar to great heights.”

Sani said part of the glorious tradition of Muslims in Mindanao is being a warrior, having fought the Spaniards.

“As a young boy, my father would tell me not to forget that I am a warrior,” he said.

“But he never encouraged me to be a warrior who uses violence,” he said of his father, who is now a professor at the Mindanao State University in Marawi City and a consultant at the Philippine Sports Commission.

He recalled a karate competition abroad when his first opponent was a Spaniard.

“I told myself that karate is the best way that I should fight him,” he said. “It was then that I realized that my own jihad can come in this form.” He said that as a sportsman who also advocates peace, he dreams of a day when there would be no more fighting in Mindanao.

“Why don’t they just compete in sports?” he said.

“Maybe they can think of having a sports fest between the armed forces and the MILF. That could put an end to fighting in Mindanao if they would not have to use their guns anymore.”

Troops ready for action

Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano ordered troops in parts of Mindanao to prepare for any attack from rogue bands of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front,

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Armed Forces public affairs chief, said Yano gave this directive during a visit to troops in Sirawai, Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro City the other day and yesterday.

“Troops there were given an instruction that while seemingly, there is a lull in combat operations in their area of operation, they have to be prepared just in case there would be an escalation of atrocities from nearby provinces,” he said.

Eight soldiers, including an officer, have been reported wounded when an improvised explosive went off following a clash with MILF rebels in Barangay Tukanalipao, in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao yesterday.

Maj. Armand Rico, Armed Forces Eastern Mindanao Command spokesman, identified the wounded soldiers as Lt. Edever Pulido, S/Sgt. Joseph Simangan, Sgt. Renato Roble; Corporals Ruben Nicolas; Roberto Anap, Jesus Alcoba; and Privates First Class Gilbert Garciano and Erwin Palencia.

“The wounded were evacuated to Tamundong Hospital and Isulan Hospital,” he said. 

“They are all in stable condition.”

An MILF rebel was also reported killed and an undetermined number wounded in the fighting, he added.

Rico said the soldiers, backed by two armored vehicles, fought for 15-minutes with about 60 rebels.

Meantime, Sen. Manuel Roxas II told the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) not to revive the agreement on ancestral domain since it was already a dead issue that “needs to rest in peace.”

Speaking to reporters in Zamboanga City yesterday, Roxas said the government has already junked the signing of the agreement for the creation of the Bangsamoro Juridical Entity.

“Patay na ang MOA-AD, ilibing na natin ito at lagyan ng bato (The MOA-AD is dead, let’s bury it and put a gravestone). It’s a dead issue,” he said.   – With Roel Pareño