Solon warns of vigilantism in south

A House leader warned defense officials yesterday about the possible emergence of vigilante groups in Mindanao should they fail to ensure the security of residents.

Deputy Speaker Daisy Fuentes (LAMP, South Cotabato) said the Armed Forces should recruit CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit) members from among reservists and the people of Mindanao.

"Trained CAFGU members are better than armed vigilantes who will not only be uncontrollable but unaccountable as well," she said.

She said the lack of military presence in critical areas in the south would surely give rise to vigilante groups.

"This is more dangerous because armed civilians who are not subject to control or discipline are walking time bombs," she added.

She pointed out that in areas where the conflict has an ethnic undertone, hostilities have been fueled by the government's abdication of its duty to protect the people.

Fuentes suggested to military officials that CAFGU recruits should go through strict screening and training to prevent a repetition of the abuses committed by the barangay self-defense forces during the Marcos era.

The military broached the idea of recruiting at least 35,000 new CAFGU members after hostilities broke out anew in Mindanao.

However, some congressmen doused cold water on the plan, saying it could result in more human rights abuses in the region.