According to Paniza, involvement of children to armed conflicts had been exploited by rebel group to pre-empt pursuing troops during encounters. In a study conducted by the 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, covering the areas of Region XI or Davao Region, South Cotabato, Sarangani, General Santos City and parts of Sultan Kudarat, out of 881 rebel surrenderees from year 2006 to 2011, an average age for a recruit is 17 years old indicating minors are often the target to increase the NPAs force.
It further revealed that those who joined armed struggle, the average educational attainment is Grade 3 where majority are Lumads reaching 74% and mostly farmers with 71%.
Based on the study, surrenderees revealed that their reason for joining is not because of poverty, but they were agitated to join, exploiting poverty as thei issue without the agitation by the legal left organization sympathetic to the NPAs, the issue on poverty remains just an issue that needs to be addressed peacefully.
They are often treated in extreme duress leaving them no choice but to enter the movement and take part in armed struggle. Lumads and minors are often marginalized within the movement where their vulnerability is often exploited and often leads to their untimely death.
Paniza said that vulnerability of Lumads and minors make them soft targets for recruitment, extortions and frontrunners in criminalities. “Social problems such as poverty and lack of livelihood are also used to lure new recruits where they are promised to be compensated and be educated. However, these are mere double talk and false promises, the main reason why NPAs surrender is because of hardship, lack of food, sleep, stress and fatigue due to long walks and endless withdrawal to avoid government troops”, he said. (Public Affairs Office 10th ID)
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