The Makabayang Kilusan ng Bagong Kababaihan (Patriotic Movement of New Women or Makibaka) refuted and denounced the Marcos regime’s recent statement that the Philippines can now be removed from the watchlist of the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Children and Armed Conflict. Makibaka exposes the hollowness of Marcos’ claim that his government has been successful in addressing children’s issues such as child labor, violence against children, trafficking, stunting and even responding to poverty which is the root of war.

Makibaka advised the UN-SRSG to examine more closely the submitted reports of the Marcos regime. It said these reports are deceptive and biased, aimed at covering up various acts of violence and violations of the rights of children, their families and communities, who fight and wage war due to worsening poverty. The Marcos regime is in reality not a “champion” of child protection, but the number one violator of their rights.

Ang Bayan reports that no less than 1,267 cases of human rights violations involved children since Ferdinand Marcos Jr took office in June 2022 until January 28 this year. These include cases of killings, attempted killings, abductions, torture, illegal arrests and detention of minors and infants. They were also victims of bombing, strafing, forced evacuation, food blockades, harassment and intimidation and military occupation. All of these violate international humanitarian law, and special protections for children, newborns and their nursing mothers.

Ten children were mercilessly killed by AFP soldiers then falsely claimed as casualties in their encounters with New People’s Army (NPA) units. These include 9-year-old Kylene Casao in Batangas, 17-year-old Argie Salvador in Camarines Norte and 16-year-old Eusibio Cranzo (Kuni Cuba) in Sultan Kudarat. In Negros, the 94th IB massacred the Fausto family, including 11-year-old Raben and 15-year-old Ben, and killed 16-year-old Everly Kee, along with her 5-month pregnant mother.

In Masbate, soldiers mercilessly killed 17-year-old Carling Belan and 14-year-old JP Osabel in separate incidents. They accused both of being Red fighters. In Samar, two children were shot without cause by the 73rd IB when they encountered them in the forest. Also in Samar, the 63rd IB butchers killed Ronie Obiado together with his 2-year-old grandson Intoy. In Oriental Mindoro, an infant of the Inyab family was killed while butcher soldiers were conducting combat operations. In all these cases, the families, friends and barriofolk repeatedly refuted the AFP’s lies that the victims were involved with the NPA.

Thirty children were victims of abduction, attempted abduction and illegal detention. Five of them were newborn babies. One of them is Baby Rhea, child of Red fighters, kidnapped by the 47th IB to force her parents to surrender. The butchers had the same motive in kidnapping Baby Marx in Negros. In Samar, two newborn babies, along with their mothers, were secretly detained in the 8th IB camp to force their fathers suspected of being fighters to surrender. Meanwhile, villagers prevented soldiers from kidnapping an infant after they illegally arrested his mother in Masbate. Also in Samar, seven minors were arrested and made “hostages” inside the military camp to be used as bait for their relatives suspected of being fighters.

Children were not spared from torture at the hands of soldiers. In Samar, Tipano Rotamula, with his two minor children were made to stand under the heat of the sun, after soldiers accused him of being involved in an NPA ambush. In Surigao, two underage children named Archie and Dennis were beaten, along with other members of the Montenegro family, on suspicion of supporting the revolutionary movement.

Thousands of children experienced trauma and fear caused by indiscriminate bombing, strafing and shelling in Samar, Negros, Ilocos, Agusan, Cagayan, Aurora, Kalinga, Bukidnon, Abra, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Surigao, Nueva Ecija and Mindoro. Using the latest and most high-tech warplanes, howitzers, and drones, bombings devastate civilian communities of indigenous people and farmers. Children’s education is also affected because local governments are forced to suspend classes in areas where bombing and militarization are intense.

Children are not safe in farming communities that are under constant threat of attacks by land grabbers’ goons, along with police and military. These include children in Hacienda Yulo, Lupang Ramos, farms in Bulacan and many others.

Children in communities of workers and semi-workers in urban areas are also not spared from various forms of oppression, threats, abductions and killings. According to AB’s records, at least three communities experienced violent demolitions. One of these was the demolition in Quezon City to give way to the construction of a parking lot for a public children’s hospital that resulted in having babies and infants sleep on the streets.

Widespread human rights violations against children, and the people in general, prove the persistence of the regime’s campaign of suppression in the name of defeating the revolutionary movement especially in the countryside.