ILOILO – No private armed groups are operating in the province, insisted Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
Ahead of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls this October, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr. claimed there were active and potential private armed groups in seven regions, including Western Visayas.
But Defensor said that during his meeting with Police Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), a few months ago, he was told there were no private armed groups in the province.
“”If I remember it right, wala sang private [army], organized crime, wala sang amo sina nga grupo,” said Defensor.
Although the IPPO had identified some groups of concern, he said they were not at the same level as private armed groups but only gangs that commit crimes like robbery.
Palomo previously confirmed that the IPPO was monitoring two criminal gangs – the Libuna and Bagatnan groups.
“They do not belong nor have the potential to be private armed groups, just criminal gangs. They organized themselves for robbery,” Palomo said.
The two groups continue to exist because their respective leaders and 50 percent of their members have not yet been arrested, he added.
Right after assuming office and after receiving an order from the governor, the IPPO director ordered tracker teams to neutralize the two groups.
“Amo to hambal ni governor, dapat ma-dissolve ang criminal gangs,” said Palomo.
To prevent the operation of private armed groups, especially as the barangay and SK elections near, the governor ordered the IPPO to strictly implement the anti-criminality campaign.
“May gun ban kita, we will implement that; we will be aggressive in implementing that para matawhay ang aton nga election,” he said.
The gun ban will take effect once the election period for barangay and SK elections begins on Aug. 28 to Nov. 29.
During the election period, no person will bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the commission.
Except for the following government officials and personnel: the President, Vice President, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (SC), the Senate President; all incumbent senators; House of Representatives Speaker; all members of the House; and all justices of the SC, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, and Court of Tax Appeals.
Also included in the exemption list are all judges of the regional, municipal, and metropolitan trial courts; the Ombudsman, Deputy Ombudsman, and investigators and prosecutors of the Ombudsman; the prosecutor general, chief state prosecutor, state prosecutors, and prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DOJ); and officials and agents of the National Bureau of Investigation.
Likewise given automatic exemption are cabinet secretaries, undersecretaries, and assistant secretaries, election officers, provincial election supervisors, and regional election directors.
The officers and members of other law enforcement agencies/entities, officers of departments, divisions, offices performing law enforcement and security functions, officers and personnel of jails and corrections facilities, officers and members of the intelligence and investigative divisions, officers and members of the DOJ, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, and officers of several other public offices and institutions are also exempted./PN
