MANILA: Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen Rommel Marbil (pic) gave police units until March to eradicate active private armed groups (PAGs) or be relieved from their posts.
The ultimatum came as the PNP reported monitoring three active PAGs and five potential PAGs ahead of the May 2025 midterm elections.
“The PNP chief issued an ultimatum that by March, the identified three active private armed groups and the five we are closely monitoring that are potential private armed groups must be eradicated,” PNP spokesperson Brig Gen Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Wednesday (Jan 22).
When asked what consequences will the concerned police offices face if they fail to eradicate the PAGs in their areas of responsibility, Fajardo replied: “This may be a ground for their relief. That is the instruction of the Chief PNP.”
Fajardo is also concurrently the director of Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon).
“Our fear here is that if they aren’t dismantled, there is a big possibility that they will be used to harass and intimidate not only rival candidates but also voters,” she said.
“These three active PAGs and five potential PAGs are already identified, so there is no reason for the field commanders, particularly the concerned regions and provinces, for them not to handle the situation,” the PNP spokesperson added.
According to Fajardo, the active PAGs are located in Central Luzon, Central Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Meanwhile, the potential PAGs are located in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Eastern Visayas and the Bangsamoro Administration Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Further, Fajardo said the PNP was deploying additional personnel in the listed areas of concern to bolster security for the midterm elections.
Marbil previously ordered the national police force to intensify efforts against PAGs and loose firearms ahead of the elections. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
