Phils has at least 68 private armies, but no names for now

As the Zenarosa Commission tasked to dismantle private armies hunkered down to work, police authorities confirmed that at least 68 private groups in the country are armed with high-powered firearms, even as they admitted earlier that the total number of private armed groups (PAGs) nationwide could reach as high as 170. Director General Jesus Verzosa, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said that in their last "validation process," 68 groups have already been confirmed as PAGs. Of this number, 25 are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) while 43 are found outside the region Verzosa said that they are still "verifying" 102 other private groups suspected of possessing firearms – 77 groups within the ARMM, and 25 groups in other regions. In a separate interview, Armed Forces spokesman Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said the government will not yet be revealing the identities of the 68 validated PAGs, until the validation process is completed, since “other groups might say we are being unfair."
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV Zenarosa Commission to summon AFP As this developed, the Zenarosa Commission summoned representatives of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in its next meeting on Monday, January 11, to give light on the militia-like Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and other groups under AFP supervision, according to Commission spokesman Herman Basbaño. The Zenarosa Commission was created by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in December, composed of a chairperson and six members, with the task to investigate and eventually oversee the dismantling of private armies before the May 2010 elections. Mrs. Arroyo later appointed the six commissioners and Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa as chairperson. [See: CA justice who acquitted Daniel Smith heads govt body vs private armies] Basbaño said that during its first meeting, held at the Mabini Hall of the Malacañang Palace, the Commission agreed to hold meetings and hearings every other day, with the Court of Appeals as venue. He said a lawyer and support staff had also been designated for each of the six commissioners and chairperson Zenarosa. Dismantle 132 PAGs by May? Asked how many private armies are presently operating in the country, Basbaño estimates that the number is close to the 132 that National Security Adviser and Acting Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales earlier mentioned. Basbaño said the Commission also agreed to come up with recommendations, which they would submit to Mrs. Arroyo by March. For his part, AFP spokesperson Lt. Col. Romeo Brawner said they have yet to receive orders from the Zenarosa Commission, when asked by GMANews.TV about the timetable of the government plan to dismantle the PAGs. "[Magdedepende sa] private commission na bubuuin (Everything will depend on the private commission to be formed). That will be the body that will tell us the direction that we'll take. We're just implementors," Brawner told GMANews.TV. Calls to dismantle private armed groups in the country were triggered by the November 23 massacre in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, which was allegedly perpetrated by members of the private army of the powerful Ampatuan clan. The military and police in Maguindanao earlier seized hidden or buried heavy firearms and ammunition from several parts of Maguindanao, including arms caches found in Ampatuan properties or detachments of civilian volunteer groups. Areas of concern Meanwhile, the PNP on Thursday said it has already identified a total of 558 cities and municipalities considered as areas of concern for the upcoming polls – or what it called "election watchlist of areas." Of the figure, 118 areas are located in the ARMM and 440 are in other regions.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV The PNP classifies the watchlist of areas under two categories. The first group includes areas where election-related violence "is expected to occur," while the second group includes areas where there are existing threat from extremist groups. A nationwide gun ban starts on Sunday, the first day of the election period. Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Jose Melo said that even politicians, whose lives are usually most at risk during elections, are covered by the ban. "Wala tayong exemption lalo na sa mga pulitiko dahil iyon ang nagangailangan in that sense pero iyan ang nasa patakaran," Melo said. Melo advised politicians fearing for their safety to just apply for the deployment of security detail. Under current Comelec policies, a candidate for mayor or a higher position will be provided with at most two security detail from the PNP or the AFP, or a private detective agency. Only uniformed policemen and soldiers in the actual performance of official duty are allowed to carry firearms. Anyone in civilian clothing caught with a firearm will be arrested and be subjected to an investigation. – JV, GMANews.TV