MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Army yesterday cited the need to seriously implement the procedures involved in the recruitment of militiamen in the wake of the arrest of a Maguindanao massacre suspect who used a fictitious name to train with the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU).
“Procedures are in place for the recruitment of CAAs (Civilian Active Auxiliaries). We just need to follow them seriously especially in the conduct of background checks so that the real identities of applicants will come out,” Army spokesman Col. Antonio Parlade Jr. said.
Parlade said conducting background checks on applicants would prevent incidents similar to the recruitment of Mohamad Datumanong, the massacre suspect who was nabbed by authorities last Sunday in Maguindanao.
“This is certainly a concern that we need to look into. It is an isolated case but nonetheless we need to check what happened in the selection process that a wanted person can make a pass without being noticed right away,” he said. “We cannot afford to have a bad egg destroy a whole basket.”
Armed Forces of the Philippines public affairs chief Lt. Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said a “thorough investigation” of applicants’ identities is important.
“What is important is conducting thorough background check during the recruitment. A thorough investigation is needed. We already have a system on this,” Burgos said in a phone interview.
In an interview last Sunday, Parlade said selection processes are being undertaken at the division and brigade levels to properly screen those who seek to become militiamen.
He said local background checks are being done even after the CAAs have been accepted.
Parlade, however, admitted that those recommended by politicians are sometimes prioritized during recruitment.
The Army spokesman said that control measures are in place to ensure that the recruits are not being used as members of private armed groups.