A very serious issue was tackled last August 28, 2010, it was about Child Soldiers. Through the efforts of the SEM-CDA student and through the help of the two speakers; Sergeant Andrew Kervin Ras and Colonel Dickson Hermoso, Chief Public Affairs Division, OJ7, GHQ, AFP, information needed by the students was just distributed smoothly.
Both speakers provided a brief background on the issue, the government agencies responsible on monitoring the welfare of the children, the actions being taken by the government and their plans on how to combat the child soldiers.
The following are the reasons of involvement of children in armed conflict enumerated by Col. Hermoso:
Source of income, poverty, indoctrination by parents and/or soldiers, seeking justice from, prejudicial experience, in consideration of price or reward and jihad or holy war.
Republic Act 7610, also known as: “Special Protection of Children against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act, signed last June 17, 1992. “An act providing for stronger deterrence and special protection against child abuse. Exploitation and discrimination, providing penalties for its violation and for other purposes”.
It is the policy of the State to provide special protection to children from all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation and discrimination, and other conditions prejudicial to their development; provide sanctions for their commission and carry out a program for prevention and deterrence of and crisis intervention in situation of child abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
Although a number of countries have undertaken demobilization and reintegration programs for child soldiers, there remains a dearth of documentation and dissemination of program experience and best practice to guide the countries. It is not enough to just give and give information; what we need now is an action. We shall not wait for more shed of blood from children and innocent people; if third party facilitator can help the Philippines lessen the tension between the Philippine government and the Moros, then the Philippines has to look for a better 3rd party facilitator immediately even if it would not be easy on our part since it can lead to international conflict.
Honestly speaking, I’m not satisfied with the answer of Col. Hermoso when Ms. Dela Cruz asked him, “who should be the next third party facilitator of the Philippines”.
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