The Salinlahi Alliance for Children’s Concerns and the Parent’s Alternative on Early Childhood Care and Development Inc. (PAECCDI) condemned the 89th IB for conducting an “educational tour” for 150 preschoolers (ages 4–6) from the Child Development Centers of Barangay North Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon on January 15.

Photos on the battalion’s Facebook page, posted under their activities for “community engagement and youth development,” show a soldier teaching children how to hold different kinds of guns.

While children have the right to age-appropriate information such as awareness about people in their community, PAECCDI questions the appropriatenes of exposing them to firearms under the pretense of “youth development” and “community engagement.”

“Promoting ‘nation building’ to children must be carried out in a scientific and sensitive manner with proper measures to ensure that children are protected from all forms of violence,” the group explained.

Salinlahi said that contrary to the military’s public performances, the AFP soldiers’ actual interactions with children have never been positive.

It said the AFP has repeatedly violated children’s rights, including abductions, illegal arrests, torture, repression and rape. AFP troops have killed up to 30 minors under the US-Marcos Jr regime.

Cases of AFP’s killings included Kylene Casao, 9 years old, from Batangas; JP Osabel, 14 years old, from Masbate; and Rey Belan, 17 years old from Masbate. Soldiers shot two children engaged in copra processing in Samar this January alone. One escaped while the other remains missing.

The group said we must not forget that AFP troops bombed Lumad schools and communities in Mindanao. They also bombed a community in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro, killing three Mangyan-Iraya children, the group added.

“The 89th IB deserves to be shamed for claiming having the right to teach children about patriotism, discipline, and service. The AFP’s own record proves that it is an instrument of violence and abuse against children,” Salinlahi declared.