PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil has given police commanders until March to dismantle three “active” and five “potential” private armed groups (PAGs) in the country.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame yesterday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the order was issued by Marbil as part of PNP efforts to ensure peaceful and orderly elections in May.
“The chief PNP has given an ultimatum that by March, all the three active PAGs that we have identified and five which we are closely monitoring as potential PAGs should be dismantled,” said Fajardo.
She said the ultimatum was given to police commanders of provinces where the active and potential PAGs are based.
The three active PAGs are based in Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Zamboanga Peninsula.
The potential PAGs under close monitoring are situated in Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Eastern Visayas and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Fajardo, who is also the concurrent Central Luzon police director, said the active PAG in Central Luzon is based in Nueva Ecija.
“The chief PNP said there is no reason (for the police commanders) not to dismantle or operate against these identified PAGs,” she said.
If they fail to meet the deadline, Fajardo said: “This will be ground for their relief. That is the instruction of the chief PNP.”
Meanwhile, the PNP said the number of individuals arrested for violation of the election gun ban has risen to 274 as of Tuesday.
The implementation of the gun ban began last January 12 at the start of the election period.
The number of seized firearms also rose to 279, the PNP also said.