4 suspected private army men fall in Masbate

MANILA, Philippines – The Army’s 85th Infantry Battalion and the Philippine National Police arrested on Thursday four suspected members of private armies in Masbate

In a statement, Maj. Harold Cabunoc, spokesman of the 9th Infantry Division which supervises the battalion, said the arrest happened in Barangay Naocondiot, Placer town in Masbate.

The suspects were identified as Ronald Santianes, Dennis Salvador, Ardito Gailan and Sonny Espinosa.

“The government forces stormed the place after being fired upon by the (suspects). No one was hurt among the responding Special Task Force Masbate personnel,” Cabunoc said.  

He said the suspects surrendered upon seeing that they were surrounded by heavily armed soldiers.

Authorities recovered a caliber .357 Smith and Wesson revolver and copies of official ballots from the suspects, who are now detained at the Masbate provincial police headquarters. 

Cabunoc said the Special Task Force Masbate composed of police and military personnel has so far arrested 98 suspected members of private armies in the province and confiscated a total of 10 high-powered firearms and 77 low-powered firearms.

It has also recorded eight election-related violent incidents in the province since the start of the year.  

A consistent election hot spot, Masbate had 22 election-related violent incidents in 2004 and 18 during the 2007 mid-term elections. 

The Department of National Defense has said that Masbate may be placed under the control of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) due to the strong presence of armed groups in the province.

Provinces with private armies are placed under Comelec control to prevent violent incidents from escalating in these areas.

Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales previously said that Masbate was suffering from “politicized law enforcement” and a “paralyzed criminal justice system.”