It could better be just a dream for the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to aspire for dismantling private armies, which recent past elections have failed to achieve despite all the rhetoric to that effect.
Neither the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) nor the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) could dismantle such private armed groups of politicians, whose resources compared to government, are so vast and the treasury so deep that they acquire the most modern firepower and other weapons to destroy their enemies (perceived or actual) from the face of the Earth.
Past elections have even shown that members of such private armies of politicos count either dismissed or active men in uniform, whose affinity and loyalty to such politicians are based on (past and present) favors and other earthly stuff that they won't otherwise earn from being loyal to their oaths as soldiers or cops.
That's why reading of Comelec's plan to dismantle private armies made me wonder how this can be done with such resoluteness and much courage.
Just yesterday, October 20, the Comelec said it would issue a resolution to place the PNP under its supervision and control to bolster security measures for the coming May 2025 polls, which include plans to dismantle private armies.
Comelec chairperson Atty. George Garcia said the PNP will be deputized, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).
Garcia said that private armies should be dismantled as the election nears as candidates might use them to advance their own interests. He issued the statement following reports that some political candidates were using private armies to coerce voters to vote for them. Good luck to that.
“We really want to dismantle all private armies. Private armies cannot exist at the time of the elections or even at the time of the campaign period,” he said.
(Private armies have been created by the politicos not just for the elections but to protect them and their families and loved ones from ‘enemies’ in politics and business. So it did not just sprout for the elections, but it had long been entrenched into their systems).
The Comelec has long called for intensified campaigns against private armed groups or private armies that are supposedly on the payroll of some candidates, the Manila Standard said..
In a previous resolution, the poll body urged authorities to look into private security agencies that are essentially acting as private armies by politicians.
“I am telling this to everyone, especially to the candidates with private armed groups, the Comelec will not hesitate to use all the forces available, use all resources available to us, just to ensure that the voters are able to vote, that nobody is disenfranchised, and the people are not threatened or terrorized,” Garcia said.
Garcia said Comelec is committed to the conduct of “peaceful and honest elections” in May 2025.
Garcia also said President Marcos instructed him to work on the safety and security of candidates and the public in the upcoming polls.
“How can the voters reflect their true sentiments if they are voting out of fear or because they were forced? That shouldn’t be the case. Voting should be voluntary in the will and thoughts of our countrymen,” Garcia added.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews #COMELEC #AFP