Abus use children to behead captives, says Defense Secretary

The child warriors are now being used by the Abu Sayaff to behead its captives, Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Monday.

“They are really using children. In fact, those who are beheading their victims are just teenagers,” Lorenzana said in Filipino.

As confirmed by Lorenzana and Senator Richard Gordon, recruitment of child warriors by the Maute group, Abu Sayyaf, and other lawless elements in Mindanao are indeed happening. They also stressed that it is against International Humanitarian Law.

As stated in the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, armed groups should not, under any circumstance, recruit or use in hostilities anyone under the age of 18.

(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 08 / 15 / 17)