DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/09 March) --  The presidential candidates present at a forum here were on the same page as far as eliminating the Private Armed Groups (PAG) or private armies in Mindanao are concerned, must be dismantled soonest as these would be used by traditional politicians as "cheating machineries.”

Former Defense Secretary and ruling party Lakas-Kamppi-CMD standard bearer Gilbert Teodoro said local peace and order councils shall take a lead in dismantling private armies.

"The government will then support whatever the local peace and order council will undertake to eliminate private armies," said Teodro during the Panaghisgut-hisgot, a 2010 Mindanao Presidential Forum, at the Ateneo de Davao University covered basketball court yesterday.

"We need to have sustainable operation for this big problem in Mindanao," added Teodoro.

But the administration bet took a blow from Sen. Maria Consuelo Jamby Madrigal as the independent and lone presidential lady aspirant said the Department of National Defense (DND) failed to address the private armies.

"It's the failure of the DND for allowing the private armies to operate," said Madrigal, to the applause of the crowd.

In previous presidential forum, Teodoro said volatile peace situation in Mindanao prevented the government from disarming the private armies during his time as defense secretary.

Teodoro told ANC's presidential youth forum at De La Salle University in Manila last January that during his time, it was impossible to dismantle the private armies in Mindanao because of various threats to the peace and order in the region.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines recently divulged that there are 51 PAGs with 4,337 armed goons -- enough men to fill two brigade-size military units of the Armed Forces -- are operating in three regions in Mindanao.

Brig. Gen. Ceasario Atienza, deputy commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said the presence of the armed groups or goons is a major threat in the coming campaign period in the May 2010 elections.

According to Atienza, 42 of the armed groups, listed members of the Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit or CVOs or Civilian Volunteer Organizations formed by local politicians or businessmen, are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, eight in Region 12 and one in the Caraga region.

Mindanao has six regions. There is no figure as yet as to private armed groups in Regions 9 (Western Mindanao), 10 (Northeastern Mindanao) and 11 (the Davao region).

"It's easy to dismantle private armies if Malacanang would not intervene," said Madrigal who claimed that the Arroyo administration upheld the rights of the warlords and druglords that led to the creation of more private armies.

In totally toppling private armies, Madrigal said, it takes "good and political will".
President Gloria Arroyo formed a Commission to lead government efforts in dismantling private armies nationwide following the massacre of at least 58 civilians in Maguindanao province last November 23.

Environmentalist Nicanor Perlas, an independent candidate, said the Ampatuans, the clan that allegedly employs thousands of  armed men, were nobody in 2001 and become somebody in 2004 when they delivered millions of votes in favor to President Arroyo who was facing Fernando Poe, Jr in the last presidential derby.

"The creation of private armies is the result of the traditional politicians," said Perlas.

The Ampatuan clan has been accused of masterminding massacre, the worst ever election-related violence in Philippine electoral history.

The clan and its supporters had been charged with rebellion by the government while Datu Andal Ampatuan Jr., Datu Unsay mayor who reportedly led the armed men in stopping the convoy of relatives of Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu, was charged with multiple murder. In early February, the other clan members and supporters – were also charged with multiple murder.

Bro. Eddie Villanueva said private armies have more modern weapons compared with what the Armed Forces of the Philippines has.

"We will not tolerate the existence of private armies employed by corrupt people," said Villanueva, the standard bearer of Bangon Pilinas Movement.

Transparency in the government transaction is one way to dismantle PAG, according to Villanueva who arrived late at the forum organized by Ateneo de Davao University in partnership with the Integrated Bar of the Philippines.

Sen. Richard Gordon of Bagumbayan Party said he wants to see people who are selling guns and ammunitions to the private armies to be put behind bars. (Rico Biliran/MindaNews)

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