Dela Rosa to E. Visayas top cop: Dismantle armed groups or face relief

LEYTE, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Tuesday, September 13, ordered police chiefs in Eastern Visayas to dismantle private armed groups (PAGs) in Samar.

Otherwise, Dela Rosa said, Police Senior Superintendent Elmer Pelobello will be relieved from his post as Samar Police Provincial Director.

“Wala akong pakialam kung kanino PAGs ang mga ‘yan d’yan sa Samar…gibain at ubusin mo lahat ‘yan, kung hindi eh ire-relieve kita,” Dela Rosa said.

(I don’t care who controls the PAGs in Samar…dismantle them all, or else you will be relieved from your post.)

“Kailangan natin ma-maintain ang mataas na respeto ng tao sa police ngayon…. Kailangan mawala na ang PAGs na ‘yan sa Samar,” he added.

(We need to maintain the people’s high respect toward the police…. The PAGs in Samar must be eradicated.)

The PNP chief pointed out that the failure to address the problem of private armed groups – believed to be behind the violence in the province – are putting political opponents and ordinary civilians at risk.

Delar Rosa was guest of honor at the 115th Police Service Anniversary of the PNP Regional Office in Eastern Visayas.

He issued the directive to Pelobello and PNP director of Eastern Visayas, Chief Superintendent Elmer Beltejar.

On September 6, Samar 1st District Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento wrote to Dela Rosa, asking the PNP chief to address the killings allegedly committed by PAGs in his province.

Task force vs PAGs

Meanwhile, the 803rd Brigade of the Philippine Army has created “Task Force Calbayog” to track down private armed groups in Samar.

Colonel Mario Lacurom, 803rd Brigade commander, told Rappler in an interview that army troops had been deployed to different areas in the first district of Samar to maintain peace and order and arrest all lawless elements.

Records from the Calbayog Police showed that 6 barangay officials and leaders of the Liberal Party were shot to death last week by unidentified members of the private armed groups.

Among the victims were Barangay Payahan chairman Darwin Tan, who was killed last September 9 while he was about to send his son to school.

Splinter groups operating within the interior barangays of Calbayog are the current concerns of the military and police.

Among the groups believed to possess firearms are the Montealto, Montealto-Belleza, Montealto-Moloboco, Montealto-Pasacas, Yrasga and Genesis Oquendo groups. – Rappler.com