By NONOY E. LACSON
March 19, 2010, 2:29pm
ZAMBOANGA CITY – Political officials from the provinces of Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi hailed the Zenarosa Commission Against Private Armies for holding a consultative meeting in this city on Thursday aimed at enlightening them on the role of the commission in dismantling private armed groups which are mostly maintained by political leaders in the three provinces.
The commission also spells out its role and function in the implementation of its task under Executive Order No. 275 issued on December 8, 2009 by President Arroyo.
Jolo (Sulu) Mayor Hussin Amin presented to the commission several situations which need security detail for elected government officials in the province in carrying out their respective mandates in the delivery of services to the people of their respective jurisdictions.
Amin concerns and objections were also addressed properly and actively by the commission with the assistance of senior police and military commanders assigned in the region, including top officials of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) present during the consultative meeting.
Amin said the meeting is very necessary since it carries vital information to most of the political officials from the three provinces under the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Retired Justice Monina Arevalo-Zenarosa, who chairs the commission, said the consultative conference aims to brief the political leaders of their function and authority as a commission.
Mrs. Arroyo also directed the commission which is composed of Zenarosa as chair, Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the Ulama League of the Philippines, and the media as members, to prioritize and focus investigation of the existence of private armies in the country.
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/248493/meet-vs-armed-groups-armm
