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Solon urges prosecution of those who employ child soldiers


Deputy Minority Leader and Kabayan party-list Rep. Harry Roque on Monday urged the government and other concerned groups to hold accountable those individuals who use children in armed conflicts.

“Our children are clearly being made targets of terrorist groups. We must prosecute those responsible for using children in armed hostilities to the full extent of the law,” Roque said in a statement.

He added that while preparing logistical requirements for conflict was a part of war, children should never be a part of it.

“They have not only planted bullets and other ammunition. They have planted destruction in the long term by poisoning children with hate. That is a crime,” he explained.

The lawmaker pointed to recent news reports of a 17-year-old Maute group child soldier, who was recruited when he was 10 years old, and who helped the rebel group stockpile ammunition months prior to the attack on Marawi City.

The child soldier also underwent intense training, including going through interrogation and torture instruction.

Worse, graduation involved the capturing and beheading a Christian.

This, Roque said, was "the kind of case that could be brought to the International Criminal Court (ICC)."

Furthermore, the recruiting children to participate in armed conflict was punishable under RA 9208, or the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.

Under Section 4(h) of the law, it was unlawful for any person "[t]o recruit, transport or adopt a child to engage in armed activities in the Philippines or abroad."

Roque added that, when he visited the Marawi City capitol complex on June 14, he had asked that security forces document cases of child soldiers.

He likewise called on the government to use its resources to protect children being invited by terrorist groups by supporting education and livelihood programs. — Erwin Colcol/DVM, GMA News

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