Head of commission on private armies gets additional post in PAGC

MANILA, Philippines - A retired Court of Appeals (CA) justice was named commissioner of the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission, a day after Malacañang announced that she has been designated chair of the independent commission to oversee the dismantling of private armies nationwide.

Justice Monina Arevalo-Zeñarosa, who wrote the CA decision reversing the rape conviction of US Marine Daniel Smith last year, retired from the judiciary last year.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita also announced yesterday the appointment of Eleazar Quinto as acting secretary of environment and natural resources.

President Arroyo promoted Quinto from undersecretary to secretary following the resignation of Lito Atienza who is running for mayor of Manila on May 10.

Mrs. Arroyo also appointed the following:

• Napoleon Manese as commissioner of the 2nd division of the National Labor Relations Commission, representing the employers sector;

• Marliza Reyes as assistant secretary of the Presidential Management Staff;

• Enrico Guilas as director IV of the Department of Public Works and Highways; and

• Carlos Mendoza as director IV of the Department of Agriculture.

Joining Zeñarosa in the commission to oversee the dismantling of private armies are Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, representing the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines; Kapisanan ng mga Brodkasters ng Pilipinas president Herman Basbano, representing the media; retired Brig. Gen. Jaime Echeveria, president of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers; retired police deputy director general Virtus Gil; Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption; and Aleem Mahmoud Mala Adilao of the Ulama League of the Philippines.

The commission will hold its first meeting today to discuss organizational matters.

Under Administrative Order 275, Mrs. Arroyo ordered the dismantling of private armed groups before the May elections.

The commission was given broad powers to carry out its mandate, including tapping the services of all government agencies such as the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces.

Bayan dares commission

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) dared the commission yesterday to hold accountable top officials of the police and military when it tackles private armies.

Renato Reyes Jr., Bayan secretary-general, said private armies have received huge support from the military and police, as proven by the discovery of weapons in possession of the Ampatuans in Maguindanao.

“The weapons came from the police and military and even had official markings on them,” he said.

“The number of weapons and ammunition seized from the Ampatuans is staggering and can only come from the government armory.”

Reyes said up to now, no ranking military, police or defense official has been made accountable for the illegal transfer of weapons and ammunition to the private armies of the Ampatuans.

“How can you dismantle private armies if you don’t strike at the main supplier of weapons?” he asked.

Reyes said all top police and military officials assigned in Maguindanao since 2001 must be investigated as the transfer of weapons and ammunition to private armies took place during that period.

“Filing charges against these top police and military officials can serve as a strong warning to scalawags in uniform all over the country who are engaged in similar illegal activities of providing weapons to private armies. It is imperative that they be made accountable, otherwise this whole talk of dismantling private armies would be futile,” he said.

Reyes said commissions created by the executive often cover up the accountability of top officials close to the President.

“That was what happened in the Melo Commission,” he said.

No top official was ever held accountable by the commission that looked into unexplained killings and forced disappearances.

Even the findings on Gen. Jovito Palparan and then AFP chief of staff Gen. Hermogenes Esperon were sorely lacking.

“No charges were ever recommended against any top military official. Bishop Pueblos knows this to be true.

“In this case, how will the commission on private armies hold accountable past and present defense secretaries, chiefs of staff, chiefs of police and other regional and provincial officials as well as their civilian patrons?

“How will the commission deal with the responsibility of the commander-in-chief Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her support for the Ampatuans or other warlords for that matter?

“If it can’t hurdle these issues, this new commission on private armies will likely go the way of the toothless Melo Commission.”   – With Katherine Adraneda