Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur (31 January) -- A lone Amazon member of the New People's Army (NPA) was captured by the elements of 30th Cafgu Active Auxiliary (CAA) Company of 23IB based in Sitio Hugmakan, Bayugan, this province, recently.

According to reports one squad of CAA led by Staff Sergeant Amorio received information from civilian residents that communist terrorists are passing their area. While conducting Checkpoint to preempt illegal logging activities in the area, apprehended was Chinamae Acebedo alias Dianne 17 years old, a resident of Purok 5, Brgy. Caromata, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur. The captured is reportedly a medical team leader of Front Committee 21B Northeastern Mindanao Revolutionary Committee of CPP/NPA/NDF under Komander Salem Masayon (TN Manuel Anob) operating in the hinterlands of Sibagat and Bayugan complex.

During the interrogation, Chinamae revealed that she joined the movement at the age of 15 and claimed that most of her companions were minors. The International Humanitarian Law and the Philippine Law (RA 7610) prohibits the recruitment of children as combatants. It will be recalled that the 402nd Infantry Brigade has filed in the previous year a human rights case with the Commission on Human Rights against the Northern Mindanao Regional Committee of the CPP/NPA/NDF under Pedro Codaste for recruiting children into the rank of the NPA.