Tacloban City (October 14) -- Another band of NPA child warriors were rescued by the troops from the 14th Infantry (Avenger) Battalion of the 8th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, at Barangay 4 Poblacion, San Jose de Buan, Samar.

Reports received by PIA stated that the rescue was an off shot of information given by a Barangay resident about the presence of three suspicious individuals roaming around the area. The troops immediately checked the veracity of the information and yielded to the rescue on October 8, 2006, 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon, of new NPA recruits.

The same report stated that the NPA recruits who are minors, were identified as Judy Boy C. Rebato @ Nene, 16 years old of Brgy Can-aponte, San Jose De Buan; Ramil Mañoso @ Otoy, 18 years old and resident of Sitio Cadarangan, Barangay Can-aponte, both members of the Lawin Platoon; and, Robert R. Mabanan, 13 years old and a resident of Barangay San Nicolas, San Jose De Buan and member of Dalogdog Platoon.

As part of the military’s ongoing surveillance operations, it could be recalled that last week, two (2) female child warriors were rescued by the elements of 34th Infantry Battalion in a far flung Sitio of Cabungahan, Barangay Tuturingon, Catbalogan, Samar. Ms Luz Tacal, the Provincial DSWD Director of Samar Province, was immediately informed regarding the rescue of these minors. The minors remain under the custody of the military.

Major General Rodrigo F Maclang, the Commanding General of the 8th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, called on the Local Chief Executives of the Municipalities where these child NPA recruits came from to extend their support to these innocent children who are victims of the CPP/NPA’s inhuman activities — that of exploiting the innocent minors in order to attain their selfish interests.