Commission to seek help of ulamas vs private armies

MANILA, Philippines - The independent Zeñarosa Commission is seeking the help of ulamas or Muslim religious leaders in its difficult task of dismantling private armies, at least the most dangerous among them, before the May elections.

A statement from the panel, chaired by retired Justice Monina Arevalo-Zeñarosa, said the commissioners will meet with leaders and members of the Ulama League of the Philippines in Davao City for two days starting today.

Zeñarosa said her office is “determined to exhaust all means to make the conduct and the results of the coming elections the true sentiments and choice of the people.”

“Through consultation with the ulamas, the Commission officials are expecting they could get deeper insights into the private army problem in Mindanao and how it could be resolved through peaceful means,” the statement said.

The meeting was initiated by Commissioner Mahmod Mala Adilao and is the second in a series of regional consultations scheduled by the Zeñarosa Commission.

Last month, the commission met with various political leaders and their followers, including candidates in the May elections.

The Masbate meeting culminated with the participants signing a “covenant for honest, orderly and peaceful elections.”

Masbate has been listed as one of the provinces with private armies maintained by politicians, the commission said.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said it was setting a fresh offensive to dismantle private armies in the coming days.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said authorities have begun to conduct visibility patrols and “other police and intelligence operations.”

He said the PNP has submitted to the Zeñarosa Commission a list of politicians who are suspected to be maintaining private armies.

Verzosa said there are, at the latest count, 68 private armed groups with the bulk in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The commission was formed last December by virtue of President Arroyo’s Administrative Order No. 275 in the aftermath of the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre that left 57 people dead, mostly women and journalists.

Other members of the panel are Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, representing the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines; Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas president Herman Basbano, representing the media; retired Brig. Gen. Jaime Echeverria, 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. – With Edith Regalado