PNP asked to revoke licenses of warring security agencies

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—The Zamboanga del Sur police office intends to ask the Philippine National Police’s Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agency (Sosia) to revoke the licenses of two rival security agencies in the municipality of town of Bayog town.

The rivalry between the two security agencies, both owned by retired  generals, has caused  tension in the village of Conacon, forcing some of the villagers to flee in fear of getting caught in the crossfire, local officials said.

The tension came to a head recently when guards from the 24 Oras Security Agency, owned by the family of retired Major General Jovito Palparan, raided a compound manned by the forces of AY76, which is owned by retired Brigadier General Alexander Yapching.

During the raid, 24 Oras guards confiscated high-powered firearms, such as AK-47s, from AY76 personnel but the police had to return the weapons because they were properly licensed.

Senior Superintendent Jose Bayani Gucela said security agencies were allowed high-powered firearms such as AK-47s in high- risk areas such as Bayog, where the New People’s Army is known to operate, he said.

Bayog Mayor Leonardo Babasa said he has ordered the two security agencies to leave Conacon after residents fled in fear, but the security firms have not budged.

AY76 works for Lupa Pigegetawan Mining Co., whose operation in Conacon has been declared illegal by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau, while 24 Oras was hired by Bayog 9 Mineral Inc., a holder of a mining permit. Lupa had allegedly encroached on the area of Bayog 9.

Babasa said that since the two security agencies refuse to leave, the “situation in Conacon is very abnormal.”

He said AY76 men were occupying the back portion of the Conacon Primary School while guards from 24 Oras set up camp about a hundred meters away from the school.

“Due to fear, the children are afraid to report to Conacon Primary School, so they are forced to walk long hours to attend classes in other schools,” Babasa said.

Gucela said because of the stubbornness of the two security agencies, the police have no other recourse but to ask Sosia’s intercession.

“To diffuse tension and allow villagers to live a normal life, what we can do now is to elevate this case to PNP Sosia for the revocation of the permits to operate of these two security agencies,” Gucela said by phone.

Gucela said the basis for the request for revocation of license of 24 Oras was the June raid its guards conducted against AY76 personnel.

“They committed an administrative violation by disarming another security agency, which is not within the level of their authority,” he said.

Gucela said Palparan’s men also misrepresented themselves “by disguising as Task Force Kalikasan (operatives).”

“They even used the uniforms of TF Kalikasan,” he said.

As for AY76, he said the security agency also committed violations but he did not specify what these were.

Gucela said once Sosia ruled in favor of the revocation of the licenses, the police could easily remove the personnel of the two agencies from Conacon.

“Once Sosia had decided in favor of the revocation, they are no longer authorized to operate in that area, and we can already disarm them,” Gucela said.

Meanwhile, Gucela said policemen and soldiers had been deployed to the area to prevent bloodshed between the two security agencies and to protect civilians.

“There’s a stand-off there and we have provided neutral security forces to assure residents that no violence will occur,” he said.

Babasa admitted that the deployment of soldiers and policemen eased the tension but residents continue to doubt that peace will last with the guards of the two security agencies still in the village.