Politicians told: Dismantle private armies

ZAMBOANGA CITY , Philippines  – The Commission Against Private Armies led by former Supreme Court justice Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa yesterday warned politicians to dismantle their private armies or face being run by government forces.

Zenarosa issued the warning during a consultative conference with local leaders from Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi at the Garden Orchid Hotel here.

She said warlords maintaining private armies should rethink their continuous harboring of personal forces to advance their interest.

“This is a fair warning to the warlords to re-think their positions because the commission is serious in dismantling them,” Zenarosa said.

Dante Jimenez, chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) and member of the Zenarosa commission, also told the gathering that the body is empowered to prosecute those who are identified and validated to be maintaining private armies.

During the conference, local leaders from Sulu and Basilan expressed concerns over the possible vacuum in the maintenance of peace and order once private armies are dismantled in their areas.

They said private armies in some way contributed to maintaining peace and order in areas that are not amply covered by the police and military.

Basilan Gov. Jum Akbar expressed her full support in dismantling private armies that she described as source of violence, particularly during the election period.

Akbar hoped that the commission could fully implement the program to address conflicts that might arise as a result of the existence of private armies.

Akbar warned armed groups including the Abu Sayyaf and other criminal elements taking advantage of the situation.

She cited the case of Barangay Tubigan in Maluso town that was attacked by the Abu Sayyaf and left 13 people dead and 11 wounded.