Aquino thumbs down abolition of militia forces

(Updated 7:55 p.m.) Government militiamen and paramilitary units will continue to exist under the Aquino administration despite calls for their abolition on the grounds that they are being utilized by some politicians as their private armies. On the first anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre blamed in part on the existence of private armed groups, President Benigno Aquino III said he is not in favor of abolishing the Citizen Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU). He, however, said militia units should instead be professionalized and be held accountable for their actions. At a press conference in Laguna, Aquino said doing away with CAFGUs and other paramilitary units is not the “proper solution" to the country’s security problems as he noted the dearth in the number of policemen and soldiers deployed in rural areas. “Yung kapulisan, kasundaluhan natin di na dumami mula noong EDSA (EDSA Revolution of 1986), yung population natin halos dumoble. So yung pagbabantay nitong security forces natin sa population bumaba dahil mas marami silang binabantayan," Aquino said. (The number of police and soldiers has increased since the first EDSA Revolution but our population has nearly doubled. The capability of our security forces to secure the population has dwindled because they have to secure so many.) Aquino's statement came several days after local militants and an international human rights group implicated paramilitary forces such as CAFGUs in the recent spate of extrajudicial killings and other human rights violations in the country, urging the president to dismantle private armies and militia forces. (See: Bayan, HRW to Aquino: Ban CVOs, CAFGUs) Militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) warned in a statement that "Aquino’s reliance on the military to stabilize his regime has made him careful in dealing with the abuses attributed to the AFP. This could be a continuing major factor in his decision whether or not to dismantle the paramilitary groups." CAFGUs as force multipliers Aquino said employing paramilitary units like CAFGUs is a viable solution to the lack of soldiers and policemen as the government cannot afford to hire more police and military personnel because their pensions would be a burden to the national coffers. “Meron namang karapatan ang bawat komunidad na magkaron ng pagkakataon ng maipagtanggol ang sarili nila lalo nga yung mga liblib na lugar at ang susi nga diyan itong mga CAFGUs among others," he said. (Each community has the right to defend itself, especially those in far-flung areas, and the key there are the CAFGUs, among others.) There are more or less 50,000 militiamen currently under the command of local infantry divisions of the Philippine Army. Professionalized CAFGUs Aquino said he has already asked the Armed Forces to review and update the manual and standard operating procedures on employing militia forces. He also said the military should ensure professionalism within the ranks of paramilitary units. “Gusto ko may accountability itong mga namamahala at siguraduhin na mai-insulate from political forces in their respective areas (I want accountability from militia leaders and I want assurance that they will be insulated from political forces in their respective areas)," the President said. “Sa dulo po niyan sila yung inatasan na tumulong sa pagkakaron ng katahimikan sa bawat lugar. Kung sila po maghahasik ng lagim sila rin po mananagot sa ilalim ng ating batas (In the end, they are the ones tasked to help ensure peace in each area. If they are the ones who will wreak havoc, then they will be held accountable under our laws)," he added. The Department of National Defense (DND) had earlier said it is in the process of professionalizing the militia forces. CHR vs EO 546 The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) had earlier asked Aquino to revoke former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Executive Order 546, which directed the Philippine National Police to give more active support for military operations against insurgent elements by deputizing militiamen in areas where insurgents thrive. CHR chairperson Loretta "Etta" Rosales made the call on the anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre, where at least 57 people were killed by hundreds of men, some believed to be militiamen, who are allegedly part of the Ampatuan clan’s private army. She said there should be a “thorough review" of the operations undertaken by paramilitary units activated supposedly as multiplier forces for the government’s fight against rebel insurgents. The CHR also appealed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and other concerned agencies to set up a psychological recovery and social integration program for members of militia groups. - with Mark Dalan Meruenas/KBK/JV, GMANews.TV