31. The recruitment of children into armed forces is absolutely prohibited by RA 9851. Children are declared as “zones of peace.” State and non-state actors are responsible to resolve armed conflicts in order to guarantee children as zones of peace. Thus, they shall not be the object of attack and shall be entitled to special respect, nor shall they be recruited to become members of the AFP or its civilian units or other armed groups, nor be allowed to take part in the fighting.42 32. In view of the foregoing allegations of Lumad recruitment by both the AFP and the NPA, the Joint Monitoring Committee under the CARHRIHL is advised to honestly and seriously investigate this and enjoin the parties from continuing with this practice. Closure of Schools 33. The Rural Missionaries of the Philippines established STTICLC schools. Talaingod has three high schools, six elementary schools, and three nonformal schools. 34. The SOS Network averred that the DepEd ordered the closure of STTICLC schools upon the prodding of the AFP. Worse, the DepEd proposed to utilize military personnel as teachers in public schools, thus strengthening their suspicion that the DepEd was in connivance with the AFP in effecting the militarization of the Lumad ancestral domains. 35. The AFP responded that the “Talaingod Tribal Elders” themselves “through a resolution dated 4 May 2015,” requested for the stoppage of the operations of STTICLC schools in Talaingod. The resolution was based on the affidavits of former students of STTICLC schools who alleged that the “instructors teach the Lumad youths to hate the government and condition their minds to become future members of the NPA.” 36. The military alleged that the CPP/NPA/NDF established such schools to get the people to support its struggle.43 The STTICLC schools were branded as breeding grounds for recruiting new cadres, as well as for soliciting foreign funds. It was alleged that the Lumad students were taught to sing the Philippine National Anthem with altered lyrics that promoted rebellion and that a test questionnaire fomenting hatred against government and espousing armed resistance was recovered from the school.44 37. On the part of the DepEd, Dr. Fadul clarified during the public inquiry that she referred to DepEd Region XI Director, Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, a letter from 88 Talaingod Tribal Leaders “requesting for the temporary closure or stoppage of operation of STTICLC schools in the entire municipality of 42 Id. 43 Assessment, Presentation by the Military, Memorandum for Chairperson Jose Luis Martin C. Gascon, Initial Report on the Alleged Militarization, Harassment and Encampment by the 68th IB PA and 25th IB PA at the Salugpongan School in Talaingod and Compostela Valley, p.4, September 4,2015 44 Report, Lumad Mindanaw Peoples Federation low-key fact-finding investigation on Lumad evacuation, 28September 2015, p.839 11