MINORS AT RALLY. The Visayas Command (Viscom) calls out the protesters for using minors during rallies. At a rally held Thursday (Sept. 7, 2023) near a mall in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, the protesters were calling for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Community Armed Conflict and Anti-Terror Law and for the resumption of peace talks. (Contributed photo)
CEBU CITY – The Visayas Command (Viscom) has called out militant groups that staged a rally Thursday as it noticed minors were present during the protest.
“While we respect their freedom of expression, we cannot help but notice the minors that these militant groups used during the rally. These children should be in school, they should be pursuing their studies for them to have a brighter future,” Viscom chief, Lt. Gen. Benedict Arevalo said in a statement on Friday.
Arevalo pointed out the protest rally by the members of some cause-oriented groups in front of an establishment in Barangay Lahug to air their grievances and call for the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
The protesters also called for the resumption of peace talks between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the National Democratic Front - Communist Party of the Philippines-National Democratic Front-New People's Army (CPP-NDF-NPA). They also sought the abolition of the Anti-Terror Law.
Arevalo said using minors during rallies and street protests is a “clear manifestation of how these militant groups manipulate and twist the mindset of our young generation.”
“They really don’t care about the well-being of our children. They just use them to pursue their senseless goal,” he said.
The protest lasted only for a few minutes, as members of the Philippine National Police immediately dispersed the protesters.
“We will sustain our intensified internal security operations and sustain our community development support efforts to attain a just and lasting peace, and sustainable development for all the people in the Visayas,” Arevalo added. (PNA)
