TACLOBAN CITY – A former child warrior from Eastern Samar filed a complaint before the regional office of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) against the Communist Party of the Philippines- New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF).
Lailanie Capada personally filed the complaint, accompanied by former rebels who surrendered to the government Friday (July 7).
Capada, who is now 25, said that she was recruited by the communist group when she was just 17 and in high school.
Among the promises to her, she said, was a better life and education which did were realized.
“I am demanding that justice be given to me. Had they not recruited me, I have now a better life,” she said, citing her reason for her filing the complaint.
During her stint with the NPA, she was trained and worked as a medical officer, finance officer, and other positions of the armed group.
Capada also said that during her stay with the communist group, she saw a lot of minors who were recruited by the outlawed organization.
In 2021, she decided to surrender to the government.
Capada, who refused to share more details on her complaint, said that it was more of asking the CHR to conduct an investigation to the communist group on their violation in recruiting minors.
Capada hopes that the CHR will take action on her complaint to protect youth from being recruited to the communist group.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
