Senate opens probe on transformation
of legal armed groups into private armies

Senator Rodolfo G Biazon today said the Senate hearing tomorrow, December 15, 2009 10 am at the Laurel-Pecson Rooms of the Committees on Public Order and Illegal Drugs and National Defense and Security as primary and secondary committees of referral will focus on the issue of private armies.

"In this country, there are several categories of armed groups- some legal, some illegal."

"The legal armed groups consist of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, the Coast Guard, the NBI, the CAFGU, the Special CAFGU Auxiliaries, the Civilian Volunteer Organizations and the private security agencies."

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security identified the illegal armed groups as - the NPA, the MILF, terrorists, criminal groups such as the Kidnap-for-Ransom gangs, carnapping gangs, pirates etc.

"Unfortunately, even some of the legal armed groups such as the CVOs, the SCAA and the CAFGUs had been known to commit criminal acts such as the Ampatuans, the CVOs in Agusan and others election related incidences of lawless violence."

Biazon said the hearing tomorrow will focus on the legislative response in order to control legal armed groups from being used as private armies emphasizing on standards of recruitment, training, arming, paying of emoluments and more important of all, the legal control of the deployment of these armed groups.

Among those invited to attend are: DILG Secretary Ronaldo V. Puno, PNP Police Director General Jesus A. Verzosa, DND Secretary Norberto Gonzales, AFP COS Gen Victor Ibrado, AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics Major General Daniel R. Casabar Jr, AFP Inspector General Major General Jovencio V. Magalso, Former Commanding General 6th Infantry Division Major General Alfred S. Cayton Jr., Commanding General 6th Infantry Division Major General Anthony J. Alcantara, AFP Procurement Services Commander Bernandino M. Ricafrente Jr, AFP Munition Control Center Commander Col. Noel B. Miano, Government Arsenal Director Mr. Pepito A. Bauto.

"Other entities may be invited depending on the progress of the hearing, " Biazon concluded.