Senate committees start hearing issue of private armies today

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate committees on Public Order and Illegal Drugs and National Defense and Security will start its first hearing on the issue of private armies, which was given much attention following the gruesome Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre.

Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense and security, stressed the need to look into private armed groups to prevent them from being used in coercing the citizens especially during elections.

“In this country, there are several categories of armed groups – some legal, some illegal,” Biazon said, classifying the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Coast Guard, the National Bureau of Investigation, the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit, the Special CAFGU Auxiliaries, the Civilian Volunteer Organizations and private security agencies as legal armed groups.

He identified the illegal armed groups as the New People’s Army, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), terrorists, criminal groups such as the kidnap gangs, car theft gangs, pirates, etc.

“Unfortunately, even some of the legal armed groups such as the CVOs, the SCAA and the CAFGUs had been known to commit criminal acts and other election related incidents of lawless violence,” the senator said.

Among those invited to attend the hearing are Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, PNP Chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, AFP chief of staff Gen. Victor Ibrado, AFP deputy chief of staff for logistics Maj. Gen. Daniel Casabar Jr., AFP Inspector General Maj. Gen. Jovencio Magalso, former Commanding General 6th Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Alfred Cayton Jr., Commanding General 6th Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Anthony Alcantara, AFP Procurement Services Commander Bernardino Ricafrente Jr., AFP Munitions Control Center Commander Col. Noel Miano, and Government Arsenal Director Pepito Bauto.

“Other entities may be invited depending on the progress of the hearing,” Biazon said.

Meanwhile, a former assemblyman of the regional autonomous government of Region XII (SOCCSARGEN) has urged the Senate to include in the investigation the mismanagement of CVOs in Maguindanao and other provinces where politicians maintain their own civilian volunteers.

Hadji Ahman Bayam, chairman of the Moro National Rebel Returnees Association (MONARRA), said there is a need for the lawmakers to establish how the CVOs, created under Executive Order 546, became a tool for local executives to establish their respective private armies.

Bayam noted the bulk of the ammunition and high-powered firearms seized from the Ampatuans in recent raids by law enforcers would only show how local politicians amass weapons and then use them in their private armies. 

He argued that the armaments of the Ampatuans “could have not grown without the blessings of authorities,” noting that the merely 800 firearms seized from the different areas near the mansions and properties of the Ampatuan clan were very small compared to about 4,000 firearms, which authorities believed to be in their “armory.”

Bayam added that the Ampatuans “always delivered the electoral pleasure of Malacañang” since 2004 when President Arroyo won over the late Fernando Poe Jr., and also in 2007, when administration candidates won by a landslide in Maguindanao.

Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Richard Gordon and Biazon have filed separate resolutions calling for an inquiry into the sources of the firearms and ammunitions seized from the Ampatuans.

“CVOs are trained by the Armed Forces and funded by local officials,” Bayam said, noting that this is probably the reason why the loyalty of the CVOs are more to their local chiefs, not to the national government. – With Dino Balabo