PNP chief orders dismantling of private armies, confiscation of guns

ILOILO CITY – To prevent violence in the coming elections, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon ordered all police provincial directors yesterday to dismantle private armed groups and confiscate loose firearms.

Calderon gave the order at the Police Regional Office 6 headquarters in Camp Martin Delgado here during the turnover of command from Chief Superintendent Geary Barias to regional commander, Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Dulay Sr.

The PNP is closely monitoring 93 private armies nationwide.

Calderon said security plans are already in place to ensure peaceful elections in May even as authorities wait for the start of the official election period on Jan. 14.

During a command conference with city and provincial police directors of Region VI, Calderon ordered the police chiefs to prevent political killings.

Calderon also announced that several provincial directors will be relieved to prevent police officials from engaging in partisan political activity.

He ordered provincial directors to dismantle all private armed groups of politicians.

Calderon said that there are reports that politicians are building up their private armed groups for the elections.

"That is the job of the provincial directors," the PNP chief said, as he warned that those that are remiss in their jobs will be relieved.

"There are many officers applying to be appointed provincial directors," he pointed out.

Calderon told police officials not just to set up checkpoints, but to also secure search warrants to confiscate loose firearms.

"I will be keeping a scoreboard of the accomplishments of every provincial director at the operations center. A 10-40 percent reduction in the loose firearms for every province would be great," Calderon said.

He said there are 406,686 reported loose firearms in the country based on the 2006 statistics.

He also said that members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) might serve as guns for hire. "You go after them," Calderon told the police chiefs.

He said the police should prevent political killings, including those victimizing leftist activists and journalists.

"If you’re a chief of police, and a case of political killing happens in your area, you will be administratively held liable and be relieved of your post to pave the way for an investigation and to remove the presumption of your involvement," he said, adding that in case there is a political killing, the police should immediately conduct an investigation and arrest the suspects as soon as possible.

In connection with the May elections, 20 provincial directors around the country will be relieved from their posts, Calderon said.

Provincial directors who have been staying in their posts for at least two years, or those with close relatives running for any elective position, or who are accused of partisan activity will be relieved from their posts, Calderon said.

In the Western Visayas, Superintendent William Macavinta of Aklan will have to be relieved despite the favorable recommendation of the business community, Calderon said.

"That is the policy so we will have to enforce it," he said.

Meanwhile, Metro Manila police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla directed the five district directors to submit by Jan. 14 the list of private armies operating in the metropolis.

Varilla refused to identify the maintainers of the private armies and said: "We will not release the names as yet without getting the cue from the Comelec (Commission on Elections)."

He said the police will concentrate on Makati City, Pasig City and Pasay City where there are intense political rivalries. However, the three cities are not yet considered as election hot spots.

Reports revealed that incumbent Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay will go against administration Sen. Lito Lapid, Pasay City Rep. Connie Dy against suspended Mayor Peewee Trinidad, and Pasig City Rep. Robert "Dodot" Jaworski Jr. against councilor Bobby Eusebio, son of incumbent Mayor Vicente Eusebio, in the fight for City Hall.

He said the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) would establish the Regional Election Monitoring Center (REMC) to record all election-related incidents in Metro Manila. — With Non Alquitran