TACLOBAN CITY— A minor killed in an armed encounter in Samar was laid to rest on Saturday, April 25, as his grieving mother called for justice and condemned the group she said recruited and abandoned her child.
The victim, identified as alias John Paul, died during a clash on April 17, 2026. His burial was facilitated through the assistance of the local government of San Jose de Buan.
His mother, Jessa, expressed gratitude to the local government for helping provide her son a proper burial, but also voiced anger toward the armed group she blamed for his death.
“An akon gad la ginsasakitan han buot kay ngano ira la ginbabyaanan, waray la nira atamana. Ira gin-inupod mahingada [engkwentro] pero waray nira atamana, ginpahamak la nira,” she said, questioning why her son was left behind during the encounter.
She urged members of the group to surrender to avoid suffering the same fate, and made an emotional appeal to a relative still involved in the movement to return home.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns over the recruitment of minors into armed group, a violation of national and international laws protecting children in conflict.
The Philippine Army 8th Infantry Division condemned the continued involvement of minors in armed struggle and reiterated its commitment to programs focused on community awareness and youth protection.
Authorities also urged families and communities to remain vigilant and report any attempts to recruit children into armed groups.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA, ROEL T. AMAZONA, ROBERT DEJON)
