UN: Use of child soldiers persistent problem in Philippines

WASHINGTON – The use of child soldiers by armed groups is a persistent problem in the Philippines, officials here said following revelations by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that these groups used child warriors to behead hostages.

The UN reports armed groups operating in the Philippines, including the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, New People’s Army, Moro National Liberation Front, the Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, continue to recruit and use children, at times through force, for combat and noncombat roles.

The US State Department in its recent Trafficking in Persons Report 2017 said protracted armed conflict and reports of recruitment and use of child soldiers by armed groups in Mindanao were continuing.

It described child soldiering as a grave human rights violation.

Lorenzana said lawless elements including the Abu Sayyaf group and the IS-linked Maute group in Mindanao had child soldiers in their ranks.

“In fact, those who are beheading their victims are just teenagers,” he said.

The TIP report said 178 children were disengaged from armed groups during the reporting period and the Armed Forces of the Philippines reported the rescue or surrender of 19 children from the New People’s Army.

A report by the United Nations on children and armed conflict issued in April 2016 said it had verified the recruitment and use of 15 children by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters as human shields in one incident.

Based on unverified reports the Abu Sayyaf recruited about 30 children.