Arroyo-formed body moves decisively vs. private armies
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The Independent Commission Against Private Armies (ICAPA), the Presidential body created by President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to look into the existence of partisan armed groups in the country, has directed the
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police(PNP) to step up efforts to dismantle
these groups to ensure honest, orderly and peaceful elections in May.
The directives were contained in two resolutions the ICAPA forwarded to the AFP and PNP through their
representatives in simple ceremonies held today at the Conference Room of the Mabini Hall in Malacañang .
ICAPA Chair Monina Zenarosa, retired associate justice of the Court of Appeals, presented ICAPA Resolutions
No. 001-10 and 002-10 to Colonel Ricardo Nepomuceno of the Operations Division of the AFP and Chief
Superintendent Cipriano Querol, Jr., Executive Officer of the Directorate for Police Community Relations of the
PNP.
“Today I am pleased to announce that the Commission after thorough deliberations, interviews, consultative
meetings with politicians and other stakeholders have come up with these two resolutions, ” Zenarosa said.
Under Resolution No. 001-10, the ICAPA strongly urged the AFP to conduct an inventory of firearms and
ammunition issued to Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and to monitor CAFGU and Special
Civilian Active Auxiliaries personnel to detect the possibility of them getting involved in election-related violence.
The Commission asked the AFP to report on the matter to the Commission within 10 days.
The Commission also directed the AFP to beef up troop presence in identified security-risk areas, such as
Lanao del Sur and Masbate, and to set up more checkpoints in the coastal areas of the two provinces, amid
reports of unregulated firearm shipments.
The commission also requested the beefing up of military and police checkpoints in Abra, particularly in the far-
flung towns of Tineg and Malibcong, to ensure strict compliance with the gun ban to deter not only political
groups but armed insurgents from disrupting the election process.
In the other resolution (No. 002-10), the ICAPA also directed the PNP to conduct a physical inventory of firearms
issued to Provincial Jail Guards, Provincial Security Forces, Civilian Volunteer Organizations, police auxiliary
units and/or Barangay tanods and to submit a report to the Commission within 10 days.
Part of the directive was for the PNP to regulate the unauthorized use of police and military uniforms and
vehicles and to cause the arrest of civilians and unauthorized personnel in violation of such.
The ICAPA was created by President Arroyo’s Administrative Order No. 275 issued by on December 8, 2009.
The AO gave further directions to PNP and AFP with an additional impetus in dismantling partisan private
armies in the country.
President Arroyo created the commission in the aftermath of the Nov. 23 massacre of 57 people in
Maguindanao that has involved the Ampatuan clan and its private army.
Aside from Zenarosa, other ICAPA members are Butuan Bishop Juan de Dios Pueblos, Mahmod Mala Adilao of
the Bishops-Ulama Conference, retired Police Deputy Director General Virtus Gil, broadcaster Herman
Basbaño, Dante Jimenez of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption and former AFP Lieutenant General
Edilberto Adan.
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PGMA inspects P600M Basilan road project
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TIPO-TIPO, Basilan -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo enplaned here today to inspect the rehabilitation of the
29.309-kilometer portion of the Basilan Circumferential Road linking Tipo-Tipo and Maluso towns.
The P600 million Basilan Circumferential Road Project aims to spur economic growth in Basilan and
neighboring island provinces even as government steps up its campaign against terrorism and lawlessness in
conflict-stricken areas in the south .
Started last Jan. 7, the rehabilitation of Tipo-Tipo-Maluso road is set for completion in 120 working days, with P2
milion advanced by the implementing unit, the Joint Engineer Task Force “Kaunlaran Basilan” of the National
Development Support Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). The task force is composed of
the Engineer Maintenance Support Battalion, 55th Engineering Brigade of the Philippine Army, and the 1st Naval
Mobile Construction Battalion of the Naval Construction Brigade of the Philippine Navy.
Total rehabilitation cost, estimated at P89.05 million, will be shouldered by the national government.
On hand to welcome President Arroyo were Basilan Governor Jum Akbar, Tipo-Tipo Mayor Ingatan Istarul, Al-
Barka Acting Mayor Muhammad Abukisan, Ungkaya Pukan Mayor Joel Maturan, Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao (ARMM) Presidential Assistant (PA) Jose Barnoso, Rear Admiral Alexander Pama, Brig. General
Michaelo Salvaleon (who is the Army Commander of the 55th Engineering Brigade and administration of Joint
Engineering Task Force Kaunlaran Basilan), and Philippine National Police (PNP) Basilan Senior Superindent
Antonio Mendoza.
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