Military: Slain NPA rebel in Agusan del Sur was a child

The military on Thursday said the New People's Army combatant killed in an encounter last Saturday in Agusan del Sur was a child. Maj. Eugenio Julio Osias, spokesman for the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, identified the slain rebel as 17-year-old Richard Paras. According to Osias, the government troops were on a combat operation when they caught up with several NPA rebels in New Tubigon village in Sibagat town. After a 10-minute firefight, the rebels withdrew, leaving behind the fallen Paras. Osias said Paras was identified by residents of the barangay with the help of one Julieto Canoy, alias Commander Boom, who government forces captured last April 1. “This is definitely a violation of the United Nations laws," said Osias, referring to the recruitment of children in an rebel armed movement. A number of NPA child warriors had been slain by government forces in the past. Military officials have said that even if the soldiers wanted to avoid killing children employed by enemy forces, it was difficult to distinguish the minors from adult warriors in the actual combat. “[Paras] death proves that communists are indeed using minors on their frontline, which is a gross violation of the Geneva Convention. We believe that more children had been recruited by the rebels and that we urge our communities to help us put an end to such inhumane treatment of our youth and to immediately report to authorities about such recruitment activities,"said Osias. For his pat, Maj. Gen. Victor Felix, 4th ID commander, asked the communists to cease from using the children to pursue their goal. “Children should be left out from the rebel’s senseless fight. They are taking advantage of the child’s innocence and teaching them to be warriors, taking away the youthful progressive years wherein kids are supposed to be in school and learning with the rest of its peers. I call upon the NPA to spare our children; our futures hope and let them grow in peace," said Felix. — LBG/KBK, GMA News