Child rebel rescued in Abra

A 17 – year – old alleged member of the New People’s Army in Abra was rescued by authorities recently in a the joint effort of Boliney Police Station and the Philippine Army during a previous encounter at Boliney, Abra.

The minor, according to police report is a student of Mataragan National High School, Malibcong, Abra.

Prior to the rescue, members of the Boliney police received a text message from a concerned citizen that a wounded female person took refuge in the house of a certain Wilson Lawad, at Brgy. Amti, Boliney, Abra.

However, the police failed to locate

the area and asked government troops to assit in the transfer of the minor to the residence of Dino Tucyapao, a barangay kagawad of Brgy. Amti, Boliney.

The minor was then accompanied by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Boliney, Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk, her parents and other personnel to Abra Provincial Hospital where she is currently undergoing medical treatment.

The minor disclosed she incurred a gunshot wound in her left leg during an encounter with the members of the AFP in Boliney on July 1.

Police Regional Office- Cordillera condemned the acts of the NPA who continuously recruit minors to be utilized as combatants in their armed struggle adding the NPA’s action revealed the dwindling number in their ranks and are desperately deceiving minors to join their futile struggle to attain their selfish objectives.

“The rescue of the wounded 17 year old minor is a grim reminder that the NPA organization totally disregarded the Declaration of the UN Convention on the rights of a child, and other Philippine Laws for the protection of children,” said PRO-COR regional director Police Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Oco Sarona said.

Sarona added together with their Armed Forces of the Philippines counterparts, they are continuously conducting pursuit operations against the NPA involved in the series of encounters in the different provinces of the Cordillera region.

The Cordillera top cop also directed all chiefs of police to continuously coordinate with the locagal government units and heads of office of government hospitals and private clinics to locate other terrorists who might have been wounded during AFP/ PNP operations within their area of responsibility.

“The public is encouraged to join hands with the authorities in tracking down and limiting the actions the NPA,” closed Sarona. Roderick Osis