PRO6 lists 20 ‘inactive’ private armies

ILOILO CITY, Philippines --- The Police Regional Office-6 is monitoring at least 20 private armed groups (PAGs) in Western Visayas.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, PRO-6 director, said that the number is based on the report from the 2010 national elections.

Cruz explained that the number formed part of the report but only seven groups were identified. “The report needs to be revalidated for the purpose of the 2013 elections,” he said.

However, “based on the latest monitoring of our police operatives, the members of the seven identified groups are nowhere to be found. Baka wala na sila sa AOR (area of responsibility) o baka nakakulong na ‘yung ibang myembro nila,” he told The Freeman.

Cruz said the monitoring of PAGs does not on the identified groups. “Patuloy po ang monitoring natin sa mga pulitiko who has the propensity na gumamit ng goons para sa eleksyon,” he said.

The issue on PAGs was one of the topics discussed during the first coordinating conference of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Philippine National Police (PNP) Friday at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.

The conference also hosted the launching of the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Centers (JPSCC) for the 2013 elections.

Aside from PAGs, representatives from the three agencies also discussed the guidelines in providing security, elections watchlist of areas, and gun ban. (FREEMAN)