Metro cops on alert for politicians with private armies

MANILA, Philippines - To ensure peaceful and orderly elections in Metro Manila next year, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will update its database of politicians maintaining private armed groups (PAGs) in the metropolis.

NCRPO director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales said they will also encourage holders of loose firearms to avail of the amnesty program of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in October.

Rosales said he and his five police district directors and 37 station commanders will meet early August to update their list of politicians maintaining PAGs in Metro Manila.

“Our initial report showed that no politician is maintaining PAGs as yet. But some of them may recruit PAGs into their camp months before the political exercise so we must be ready and alert to dismantle them,” Rosales said in an interview.

According to Rosales, they are also coordinating with the PNP’s firearms and explosives division to get a list of Metro Manila residents holding loose firearms.

“Once we have the list, we will immediately encourage them to register their firearms so it would not be confiscated by the government and for them not to pay excessive penalty,” Rosales said.

The NCRPO have also increased its checkpoint operations to prevent loose firearms and bomb parts from being smuggled into Metro Manila.