Bill to penalize financiers, suppliers of private armies
A bill filed in the Lower House seeks to stop the use and proliferation of private armies by penalizing not just the leaders and members of a private armed group, but also its protectors, financiers, and suppliers. In filing House Bill 2111 or Anti-Private Army Act of 2010, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and his brother Abante Mindanao party-list Rep. Maximo Rodriguez said private armies have long been a standing practice in the Philippines, with the government using them against communist or Muslim separatist groups. They said local politicians have also used these armed âcivilian volunteers" to do their bidding, âwith Manila turning a blind eye" in exchange for support during the elections. A New York Times article had stated that the Philippine government âsupported local officials with private armies to help suppress insurgents and Islamic radicals, and these conflicts often become inextricably linked with clan warfare." The House bill defines a âprivate army" as armed men maintained by a person, such as politicians or local kingpins, outside the regular police and military forces and used for criminal activities or for protecting and advancing the political or economic interest of an individual, clan or private group. HB 2111 prohibits the following:
- maintenance and use of private armies
- use of paramilitary forces and private security agencies as private armies
- abuse of deploying military and police personnel as security detail
- abuse of various permits pertaining to firearms, and
- protection, financing, supplying or giving aid and comfort to private armies.