Hundreds of Boys and teenagers kidnapped in Southern Philippines 
By: Mike Cohen
Manila - Philippine authorities are
desperately searching the countryside in the Southern Philippine
province of Sultan Kulerat for a large number of children believed to
have been stolen by a cult that is allegedly abusing the children
en-masse. In what is being called a massive child search and rescue
operation the military and police are looking for a cave where scores of
children have been brought to be members of a remote area. The
Philippine Government Philippine News Agency reported "Police in Sultan
Kudarat have started looking for a cave where hundreds of children were
allegedly being held captive by a cult."
Authorities were alerted to the mass kidnappings after a "account by a
14-year-old boy who claimed to have escaped from the cult prompted
authorities to search for the cave, possibly located in the mountains
near Lutayan town" the remote hinterland province is home also to rebel
groups it i unclear if the children are being kidnapped for service in
the various armed bands that roam the Philippine countryside. The
government run news agency reports;” The cult is believed responsible
for the disappearance of children in various places, including South
Cotabato, Sarangani and General Santos City". The areas are large
communities where a sudden surge of disappearances has accrued.
"The boy, whose identity and address was withheld for security reasons,
was brought to the Lutayan police station by residents approached by the
child after fleeing from the cult." The State run news agency report
said further "Police say that there have been other similar reports of
this kind of crime". adding further the boys escape may shed light on
the disappearance of hundreds of other young boys and teenaged men, "He
told policemen that he was kidnapped several weeks ago by a group of
men. They covered his nose with a substance-laced cloth and he lost
consciousness. When he woke up, the boy found himself in a dark cave
filled with children, who were also kidnapped."
In Manila at the National Police Headquarters operations center say they
fear the cult may be a cover for a mass recruitment by kidnapping of
insurgent groups who have done this before on Basilan Island in the
Southern Philippines. Four insurgent groups operate in the Southern
Philippines ranging from Communist rebels. Two factions of the Islamic
separatist movement the MNLF and the MILF but most of these groups do
not engage in kidnapping of children as fighters.
The fourth a Al Qaeda linked group of insurgents called the Abu Sayyaf
who are allies of the Jemaah Islamiah and Al Qaeda. Are known to kidnap
en-mass to "recruit and brainwash' young men and boys often keeping them
for weeks until they join raids or crime spree's or using them as
'cannon fodder" between them and government forces.
Authorities say the last time group had been known to kidnap young men
and boys was often prior to engaging in large battles. UNESCO & UNCHR
have several times in the past condemned the use of child fighters in
conflicts in the Philippine insurgency by armed groups in the last few
years as the Philippine economy has improved it has become harder for
some armed groups to find recruits claim authorities and they have been
known to abduct children in a effort in increase their numbers in the
field. [End]
