14 suspected PAG men fall in intensified drive

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has arrested 14 people tagged as members of partisan armed groups (PAGs) or private armies of politicians during an intensified operation nationwide last month.

Encouraged by the initial success of the operation to neutralize PAGs, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa expressed confidence yesterday that the May elections would be peaceful and orderly.

Reports reaching Camp Crame showed that there has been no violent incident perpetrated by PAGs in the run-up to the polls compared to previous elections.

“Gen. Verzosa is elated by the outcome of our campaign against PAGs,” said a police official, noting that coupled with the gun ban implemented by the Commission on Elections, there are now fewer crimes by people armed with handguns.

The PNP-Directorate for Intelligence (DI) initially listed 68 PAGs all over the country but the figure rose lately to 191, although 81 of them have yet to be validated.

The figure swelled as PAGs were identified in Regions 3, 5 and 9 while a number of PAGs in Regions 1, 10 and 12 were “upgraded.”

The PNP-DI reported that there are 118 PAGs in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and that the PNP would deal with them separately.

Verzosa initiated the campaign against PAGs to level the playing field among candidates in the May elections.

He created Special Task Groups (STGs) to strictly monitor the 191 PAGs on a 24/7 basis and prevent their members from harassing or terrorizing supporters of the rivals of the politicians who have hired them.

The PNP remains on high alert as Camp Crame officials expect more violence to erupt anytime as the campaign period for the national elections starts on Feb. 9.

However, with the continued neutralization of PAGs, Verzosa is confident that poll-related violence would not escalate.

Reports reaching Camp Crame showed that Oswaldo Biscarra and Vitoriano Bodona, both newly recruited security guards at the Bangued municipal hall in Abra, were arrested last Jan. 9 and 18, respectively, for violating the gun ban.

The two, suspected as belonging to the PAG of a municipal mayor in Abra, yielded a caliber .45 automatic pistol each.

Last Jan. 12, elements of the Salcedo police station in Eastern Samar were on a routine patrol when they accosted Cindel Duarte, Eugene Logmao, Abe Coloman and Alex Mulo for possession of a caliber 9-mm pistol, a caliber .45 pistol and two 12-gauge shotguns.

The suspects alleged that they were security guards of the Teresita Mining Corp. in Barangay Caguat, Salcedo town but failed to show proper documentation for their firearms.

Reports reaching Camp Crame said the four were allegedly employed as PAG members of a former vice mayor implicated in liquidations, harassment and kidnappings.

The former vice mayor was previously monitored to be one of the alleged financiers of the Waray-Waray kidnapping gang operating in Metro Manila, the reports said.

Armed with an arrest warrant for frustrated murder, the Masbate police nabbed Ireneo Booc in a videoke bar in Barangay Poblacion, Cataingan town last Jan. 23.

Booc, an alleged PAG leader operating in the third district of Masbate, yielded a caliber .45 pistol with three magazines loaded with ammunition and a caliber .22 airgun. Booc is the chairman of Barangay Divisoria.

Forest rangers Reynante Fang, 57, and Wilson Viduya, 42, were arrested last Jan. 30 in Pugo, La Union for possession of a caliber .45 pistol and a 12-gauge shotgun,

The two were roaming around Barangay Cares when accosted. They failed to show papers for their firearms.

The two forest rangers allegedly belong to the private army of a former mayor.

Police also arrested Danilo Absalon, Reynaldo Paulino, Ronnie Gonzaga, Rolly Victoriano, and Rene Casalhay in their safehouse in Barangay Libucan Gote, Tarangnan, Samar.

They yielded a KG9, AR15 rifle, two caliber .45 pistols, a homemade shotgun, and five bladed weapons.

Reports tagged the suspects as members of the PAGs of a municipal mayor and a lawmaker.

Verzosa has ordered the filing of appropriate charges against the arrested PAG members.