[Rappler] A child soldier was among communist militants killed during a clash in Davao del Sur on April 21. Military spokesman Benjamin Madrigal identified the casualty as 15-year-old Rondi Ondo, a resident of Makilala in Cotabato province.News about the death of the child soldier, whom the military claims to be a New People's Army recruit, only surfaced on April 23, two days after an encounter between Philippine troops and the communist rebels at Barangay Astorga in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. Madrigal said, "Ondo’s cadaver was recovered after the encounter with an M16 rifle and clad in black NPA uniform."
“We condemn the practice in strongest term and challenge the NPA terrorists to spare them. Let children be children, and allow them to play, learn, enjoy and experience the beauty of being a child and spare them from indoctrinating hatred and violence,” Madrigal added.
Ondo's mother, however, contested the military's statement. Identifying herself as Marissa Ando in a phone interview, she said "the military is trying to appear that my son was an NPA."
"They want to put his death into a closure so things would be over," she added.
What actually happened on April 21, she said, was that the child was with his uncle and cousin at their farm to get coconuts when the military fired at her son with a sniper.
Earlier on April 22, the military said NPA leader Julito Pueblas was among those killed in the clash. According to Eastmincom spokesperson Ezra Balagtey, Pueblas was “responsible for atrocities and coercion” in the Davao province. He allegedly led the Sentro De Grabidad of Guerilla Front 51 of the NPA in Mindanao. The military said they also captured Jessa Lumana during the incident.