PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief, General Dionardo B. Carlos has ordered the five PNP Directorates for Integrated Police Operations or Area Police Commands and the 17 Police Regional Offices to further intensify their crackdown against partisan armed groups and loose firearms that could be used as an ‘instrument of violence’ in the forthcoming May 2022 national and local elections.

The member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988 in particular said the APCs should be more involved in the police campaign against insurgency, terrorism and the dismantling of private armed groups amid their ongoing effort to help ensure a fair, secure and credible election next year.

“We will further develop and strengthen our Area Police Commands to make our operations on the ground more focused and aggressive as we strive to further deny insurgents, terrorists as we strive to further deny insurgents, terrorists and private armed groups the opportunity to sow terror in our communities,” he said in his assumption speech.

Clothing the APCs or DIPOs with more authority was an idea of former PNP chief, Gen. Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan which Gen. Carlos said he would like to continue.

At present, three classmates of Gen. Carlos from PMA Class 1988 are APC directors namely Lieutenant Gen. Ferdinand O. Divina of the DIPO-Southern Luzon; Lt. Gen. Marnie C. Marcos of the DIPO-Northern Luzon; and Lt. Gen. Joel Balba of the DIPO-Visayas.

The two others are from PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989: Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito M. Malayo of the DIPO-Western Mindanao and Lt. Gen. Manuel M. Abu of the DIPO-Eastern Mindanao.

Gen. Carlos said he wants the continuity of now retired Gen. Cascolan’s move to fully expand the power of the DIPOs which oversees the operations of regional and provincial offices including the investigation of crime and terrorism incidents across the jurisdictions of police regional offices.

The DIPOs were activated to strengthen the coordination and interoperability of the police and the military against communist insurgency, terrorists and other threat groups.

The PNP and the Armed Forces leaderships have vowed to further step up their crackdown against all identified PAGs in the country to help ensure they won’t be used by rogue politicians to threaten their rivals and non-supporters in next year’s elections.

Security officials are currently validating the presence of 127 potential PAGs in Bangsamoro Administrative Region. However, latest validation showed that only three of these PAGS remain active in the region.

Gen. Carlos assured they are working on all measures to address the primary threat to the election. He was referring to PAG members who are acting as ‘bullies or guards’ to instill fear or influence the outcome of the election.

Citing previous atrocities and other violent acts committed by PAGs in some parts of the country in the past, the PNP leadership said they are particularly focusing their efforts in dismantling PAGs in Bangsamoro Administrative Region and in Region 12 or Soccsksargen region.

Officials specifically cited the infamous November 23, 2009 Ampatuan Massacre in Maguindanao where 58 persons including family members and supporters of then Mayor Ismael Mangudadatu and 32 local media personalities were gunned down by the group of Zaldy and Andal ‘Unsay’ Ampatuan Jr.

The PNP is currently zeroing in on areas with history of intense political rivalries and considerable presence of PAGs as well as the New People’s Army, the Abu Sayyaf Group and ISIS-inspired Maute Group and other lawless elements in Mindanao.

The PNP, in coordination with the AFP is thoroughly validating the list and other information regarding existing PAGs in the country.

Gen. Carlos said they won’t allow PAGs to be used in the election even as he warned candidates from maintaining armed groups or even paying so-called ‘Permit-to-Campaign Fees’ to the New People’s Army.

Last month, the PNP and the AFP leadership committed to work together to bring lasting peace in Mindanao and the rest of the country as they expressed their needs to be supported by other government agencies and the citizenry so that they could attain their mission.

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo M. Año and Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. explained the need of the government to have the support of all stakeholders to end the culture of gun and violence in Mindanao thru the disbandment of PAGs.

Sec. Ańo admitted that PAGs continue to exist due to several factors such as the level of human security, the gun culture, ‘Rido’ or clan wars, political dynasties and exploitation of government security forces.

However, he said that the PNP and the AFP are fully addressing the problem. He said that since November last year, 13 PAGs have already been dismantled by security forces due to their ‘whole-of-nation-approach’ to the problem.

The disbanded PAGs were identified as Datu Tha Sinsuat, Dilangalen, Ibay, Panggalan, Abo, Matalam, Mamasabulod, Sabal, Akmad Ampatuan, Montawal, Tamano Mamalapat in the BARMM; and Mudia, and Bungay PAGs in Region 12.

PNP Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao head, Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito M. Malayo said their latest validation report show there are two PAGs in Region 12 with 14 members and three in BARMM with 183 members. The five PAGs have a total number of 174 firearms.

The official said they can’t disclose the names of the politicians maintaining those five PAGs but maintained ‘we’re closely monitoring them.’

He also presented 10 PAG members who have surrendered and turned over 64 of their weapons. The 10 were among the 93 PAG members in the region who have yielded along with 83 high-powered firearms and ammunition this year.

The leadership of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Sema group likewise threw their full support behind the national governments’ efforts to put an end to the lawless elements.

MILF Chairman and BARMM Chief Minister Murad Ebrahim emphasized how private armed groups can adversely affect the peace and security situation in Mindanao by propagating the culture of fear and violence.

“To truly put peace in place, the Bangsamoro and other regions should put their weapons down and participate in nation-building. By having PAGs roaming around, our people cannot live in peace and trust that Mindanao has departed from its conflict-stricken history,” Ebrahim said.

For his part, MNLF Chairman Muslimin Sema recalled how the PAGs can undermine the conduct of elections based on the region’s history. “PAGs are the primary instruments in the disenfranchisement of the electorate. The MNLF supports by all means the disbandment of PAGs. We have experienced it. It was the PAGs of the 70s who massacred our people which caused the Moros to rise up in arms,” Sema said.