An 18-year-old member of the outlawed New Peoples Army surrendered to authorities after the rebel group reneged on its promise to provide him education.
Junjun, who give himself up a week ago, told reporters that he quit as a rebel combatant after he realized that the NPA was not keen on fulfilling its promise to him.
“Ang nakapatukmod sa akoa kay wala ko nila gitarong ug istorya. Ang kuan nila, paskwelahon unta ko. Karon ra nako na huna-hunaan nga murag gibinuangan ra ko,” Junjun said during the AFP-PNP Press Conference held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel.
Junjun, who is a resident of Sitio Mangkay, Kapalong was a squad leader under Pulang Bagani Command 4 of the NPA operating in the areas of Kapalong, Davao del Norte and Monkayo, Compostela Valley under a certain Kumander SM.
In 2013, when Junjun was still 15 years of age, he recruited by a certain ‘Pai’ who gave him the assurance that he would be given assistance for his education if he joins the movement.
“Katong gi-recruit ko nila, ingon sila nga paskwelahon daw ko nila. Pag-abot namo sa Haran, gikuyog na man nuon ko sa Manila. Didto sa rally,” Junjun added.
‘Junjun’ also added that he has joined six encounters and have also been involved in burning a heavy equipment in his three years in the rebel group.
‘Junjun’ expressed his desire to go back to school, since he only finished Grade III.
“Kung gugustuhin niya pong magbalik sa skwelahan, we can go to other non-government organizations who are very helpful or we can help him with our existing programs coming from the government,” Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesperson of the Army’s 10th Infantry Division.
Alias Junjun is currently under the custody of the 60th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army to undergo debriefing.
