PH’s ‘crime hotspots’
PRESIDENT Marcos has ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to identify “crime hot spots” and dismantle all private armed groups (PAGs) across the country.
And it is public knowledge that influential, powerful and moneyed individuals maintain heavily-armed “private armies” in some parts of impoverished Philippines.
In the past, some politicians, mostly local leaders, utilized members of their “private armies” to harass, threaten and intimidate their politicial rivals during political exercises.
The Chief Executive from Ilocos Norte issued the order following the high-profile killing of local government officials, including Gov. Roel Degamo of Negros Oriental last week.
Last February 17, gunmen shot and wounded Lanao del Sur Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. On February 19, armed men ambushed and killed Aparri, Cagayan Mayor Rommel Alameda.
And on February 22, armed men shot and wounded Maguindanao del Sur Mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal.
President Marcos described Governor Degamo’s killing as “shocking” and “terrifying, citing how he was killed in front of his house in the town of Pamplona, Negros Oriental.
At the same time, Marcos, son of the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos assured that the government will step up efforts to increase cop visibility and step up intelligence gathering.
Various quarters, including the ordinary citizens, applauded when President Marcos ordered the police to hit hard at members of private armies.
Clearly, it’s a move in the right direction.
