By NONOY E. LACSON
January 16, 2010, 5:17pm
ZAMBOANGA CITY – The military is set to crack down and dismantle at least eight private armed groups in Basilan, and 21 in the province of Sulu as the campaign period starts, the Army’s Western Mindanao Command (WesMinCom) based in this city said.
WesMinCom commander Lt. Gen. Ben Dolorfino said that “this dismantling of private armies will be implemented through the election period and beyond.”
The election period started last January 10 and will end on June 9, 2010 shortly after the May 10 national and local elections.
WesMinCom listed at least eight private armed groups in Basilan, 21 in Sulu, four in Tawi-Tawi, seven in Zamboanga del Norte, and six in Zamboanga del Sur.
As this developed, Dolorfino has ordered the different military filed commanders to validate, disarm and know the leaders, and members of these private armies.
It was learned that Dolorfino is also set to coordinate with the judges for the issuance of search warrants to disarm the identified private armies.
According to Dolorfino, the WesMinCom is also open for voluntary surrender of firearms of these private armies or to their imam or religious leaders.
Dolorfino said no case will be filed to those who will voluntarily surrender their firearms to the military or to their imam or religious leaders.
He also said that when they start to operate, those private armies caught will be charged for illegal possession of firearms.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/238801/military-set-dismantle-29-armed-groups-basilan-sulu
