Military steps up drive vs. private armies this poll season

TACLOBAN CITY, May 10  -- The Philippine Army is stepping up its watch against the reactivation of private armies in Samar province days before the May 14th elections.

Major Gen. Raul Farnacio, commander of the Philippine Army’s 8th Infantry Division, said the military have intensified intelligence gathering to prevent the regrouping of private armed group and dismantle existing ones.

“Every election, wanted persons are hired by politicians to advance their interest. Remember that barangay election is in preparation for the 2019 elections and some officials will make sure that their anointed candidates will win,” Farnacio said in a press briefing Wednesday.

In fighting private armed group, the Philippine Army will apply the “Alunan doctrine” introduced by former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan III, who served during the presidency of Fidel Ramos.

“Under Alunan doctrine, any official with more than two armed men can be considered as an organizer of private armed group and must be disarmed,” Farnacio said.

On Tuesday, the Philippine Army started the deployment of 1,700 soldiers to patrol in remote communities vulnerable to threats of New People’s Army and private armed groups.

Deployed soldiers are from the 801st brigade based in Hinabangan, Samar; 802nd brigade based in Ormoc City in Leyte; and 803rd brigade based in Catarman, Northern Samar. Each brigade has 500 to 600 troopers.

“We have to prevent rebels and private armies to launch violent activities affecting the security and result of the barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan elections,” Farnacio added.

Last week, the Philippine National Police released photos and announced cash rewards of most wanted persons in Samar province. Topping the list is Jimmy Managaysay from Calbayog City with PHP700,000 cash reward awaits his capture. He was charged with four counts of murder.

PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz said they have posted photos of these most wanted persons for the communities to alert the police of their presence. Authorities believe that wanted persons will likely be hired by politicians as private armies.

At least 284 villages in the Eastern Visayas region have been identified as election hotspots, citing intense political rivalries, threats of armed rebels, and violence committed by private armed groups.

Northern Samar has the most number of areas on the watch list with 114, followed by Samar (82), Eastern Samar (60), and Leyte (28).

In October 2016, the police and army formed a task force to disband private armies in Calbayog City and nearby towns of Sta. Margarita, San Jorge, Gandara, and Matuginao in Samar. (SQM/PNA)