Cops: 6 private armies in Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan, Philippines – Six private armies have been identified in this province and five others in the rest of the Ilocos region (Region 1), a police official said yesterday.

Superintendent Romeo Caramat, intelligence head of the provincial police, said private armies have been tagged in the towns of Bolinao, San Nicolas, San Manuel, Balungao, Infanta, and Umingan.

He, however, clarified that the list did not come from him but from the national police headquarters.

Among those tagged as allegedly maintaining private armies were first district Rep. Arthur Celeste and his two brothers, who hail from Bolinao town.

Rep. Celeste, who is now on his third and last term, is running for mayor of Alaminos City. His brother, Bolinao Mayor Alfonso Celeste, is seeking re-election, while another brother, former mayor Jesus Celeste, is running for congressman.

Sought for comment, Rep. Celeste dared the police to do their work, prove their claim and arrest him and his brothers if they have evidence. 

“I go out every day. If they can see (private army members) with me, then they should arrest them,” he said.

Asked if he feels the need to see the police to clarify the matter, he said, “No need. It’s up to them to prove (their claim). I think we are too popular (so they do this to us).”

He said this has been the accusation raised against him and his brothers yet they win more and more votes in every election.

He said he is accompanied by his police security escorts approved by the Commission on Elections, together with his supporters, when he goes around.

“If they think my supporters are (members of a private army), then they should prove it,” he said. “But the truth is, the Lord is with us because we always win.”

He said their constituents cannot be fooled by these allegations “because they know who give them real service.”

Caramat said they have received a directive to form a special task group to monitor the activities of suspected private army members in the province.

He said they have identified 23 suspected members of private armies and have neutralized four of them through search warrants and checkpoints.