The commanding general of the 303rd Infantry Brigade in Negros Island has refuted the claims of a captured Communists Party of the Philippines-New People's Army leader, that the underground movement is no longer recruiting minors.

In an interview with the DAILY STAR, 303rd commanding officer Gen. Gregorio Fajardo said the CPP/NPA has had a hard time recruiting older ones to join the movement.

Since the 1980s, the target of the NPA has been to recruit minors, by promising them a little allowance and firearms. He said RA 9344 authored by Sen. Francisco Pangilinan is a setback to the army's campaign.

Earlier, captured NPA commander Raul Villar alias Ka Drilon revealed that CPP/NPA is only recruiting members 18-year-old and above.

Villar was captured along with an armed combatant in Siaton. Confiscated from them were propaganda materials, lecture notebooks and books titled "Batan-on," and a tent used as a chalkboard.

Gregorio said that when these minors are captured, they are usually turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.*JG

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