(CNN Philippines) – The military said on Monday it is exercising caution in fighting against children who are in the enemy frontlines in Marawi City. Armed Forces of the Philippines Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla said government troops are receiving “narratives from escapees that children are being employed in the firefight.” The escapees refer to hostages […]
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(Rappler) – To stop the recruitment of children, the Philippine government must recognize the need to institutionalize counter-radicalization programs. The Philippines has one of the most long-standing conflicts in Southeast Asia, with armed groups including Muslim separatists, extremists, communists, and other rebel organizations. These different groups carry respective ideological causes and struggles that most of the time […]
(HRW) – On June 21, dozens of armed Islamist rebels stormed and occupied a school on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, the latest in a slew of attacks that highlight the continued risks children face seeking an education in the volatile region. The rebels, reported by the police to be members of the Bangsamoro […]
(UNICEF) – UNICEF Philippines is concerned with the well-being of children affected by the conflict between armed groups and government forces since 23 May, which has left 24 civilians dead including one child, and tens of thousands displaced. The agency called for involved parties to the conflict and relevant government agencies to ensure the safety […]
(International Business Times) – The Philippines government finally confirmed that the Maute militant group is using child soldiers armed with baby armalite rifles to fight soldiers in Marawi’s battle zone. A police official, who had joining foot soldiers in the battle zone moving from one house to another in search of Maute remnants, was caught by […]
(Manila Bulletin) – The military’s Western Mindanao Command (WMC) leadership expressed regret over the deaths of two children in an operation against the Abu Sayyaf in Tabuan Lasa town in Basilan and would want utmost prudence by its combat troops in running after the bandits. Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., WMC commander said collateral damage among […]
(Al Jazeera) – Hundreds of child soldiers have been released by the Philippines’ main separatist armed group here at Camp Nusa, continuing its commitment to end the recruitment and use of children within its ranks. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), one of the most powerful armed groups in the country, released the children on Friday […]
(AP) – A network of organizations seeking to protect children in conflict urged U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday to add 11 parties to the blacklist of countries and armed groups responsible for grave violations against children. The Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict’s recommended additions included the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen, which was taken off […]
