The recruitment of minors by the New People's Army was proven by the recent arrest of a 15-year-old boy in Brgy. Casala-an, Santa Catalina, Oriental Negros, the military said.

Lt. Col. Norman Flores, 61st Infantry Battalion commander, yesterday said the minor, whose name is being withheld by the DAILY STAR, is a resident of Daang Lungsod, Santa Catalina and was on a foraging mission, when intercepted by barangay tanods on Oct. 6.

Flores said the boy confessed to being a member of the Larangan Gerilya 5 platoon 2 operating in the hinterland areas of Santa Catalina and neighboring areas in southern Negros.

He also admitted participation in the foiled attack of the Nawakat detachment in the town October last year, and that, he was issued a carbine rifle during the attack, which lasted for more than three hours

The boy said he was with a group of about 50 rebels led by Misael de la Cruz alias Ka Jimlan of Platoon 1, Larangan Guerilla 5, as a "test mission for their arms build-up."

Military records show that the rebels failed to overrun the Nawakat detachment after almost three hours of gunbattle. Flores said the boy was turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Santa Catalina for custody.

Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 stipulates that minors cannot be brought to court or face criminal charges.

Flores said they hope that proper agencies, such as the DSWD and local government officials, and the boy's parents, will cooperate in his rehabilitation and re-orientation.

In previous months, two rebel recruits who were minors were also intercepted by the police while fleeing from the encounter site in Brgy.Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.*GPB/JG

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