New DILG secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento. FILE PHOTO
AS the filing of candidacy nears, the Department of the Interior and Local Government is preparing to stem the possible resurgence of private armies during the election period.
Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said the DILG is now focusing on private armed groups that could pose security threat in the general elections next year.
“Our coordination on election security with the Philippine National Police as well as the Armed Forces of the Philippines has already started,” Sarmiento said in an interview at Camp Crame.
The secretary also asked the participation of the public in neutralizing PAGs by reporting their presence or incidents involving the armed men to the authorities.
“Kailangang magtulong-tulong hindi lang sana yung unipormadong service kung hindi ang ating mga taumbayan ay kailangang maging kabahagi sa pagsumbong lalo na sa verification,” he said.
Although the PNP, AFP and the intelligence community are exerting utmost efforts, the task of going after private armies will be a lot easier with the cooperation of the public.
“Mas dapat mapapabilis yung proseso kung ang mga tao mismo ang nagbibigay ng impormasyon na may nagbubuo ng grupo o anumang existing na PAGs,” he added.
Sarmiento also assured that the PNP and AFP will work hard to ensure that the 2016 elections will be peaceful.
“We will make sure that the process of choosing our next leaders will be credible and honest,” he said. Julliane Love de Jesus