24 private armies dismantled, says panel

MANILA, Philippines - A total of 24 private armies all over the country have been dismantled since December but there are still 88 more that need to be broken up to help ensure peaceful and honest elections this May, an independent panel said yesterday.

Commissioner Herman Basbaño, a member of the Zenarosa Commission, said the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have dismantled 24 out of the 112 private armies listed by the authorities since the creation of the panel.

The commission, headed by retired Justice Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa, was formed by President Arroyo last Dec. 8 in the aftermath of the Nov. 23 Maguindanao massacre, to lead in the dismantling of private armies.

Zenarosa said she sees the country’s first automated elections to be peaceful with more private armies broken up and more politicians and “maintainers” voluntarily yielding their arms.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa has ordered special police units to monitor the activities of private armies round the clock.

“The idea is to have a one-on-one, round-the-clock monitoring of all identified (private armies),” Verzosa said.       – With Mike Frialde