By Jennifer P. Rendon
At least three emerging private armed groups (PAGs) have been placed on the police’s radar following the assassination of Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo and eight others.
Why emerging?
“Nag-lie-low ito noon. Ngayon, they are trying to regroup,” Brigadier General Leo Francisco, Western Visayas police chief, said on Monday.
Talks about the existence of PAGs have been discussed anew since it was believed that the suspects who carried out the Negros Oriental carnage are part of a private army.
“But to qualify it, we are monitoring their movements. Kasi until now, wala kaming na-mo-monitor na movements dito sa emerging PAGs,” Francisco said.
Since they are still considered emerging, he claimed that he doesn’t want to go into details about their profile.
Around this time in 2022, PRO-6 said that they have not monitored any active PAGs that might be used as goons for the local and national elections.
The police said it has been constantly on the lookout for possible re-grouping of inactive PAGs members.
The possibility of new PAGs is always considered every election period.
There’s also the possibility of former PAG members being hired as armed personal bodyguards by politicians.
Even earlier, the PNP hierarchy has been constantly reminding policemen to intensify operations against PAGs and loose firearms.
PRO-6 has continued its campaign against loose firearms.
Through its initiative, Kontra Boga (locally known as TKAL or Tokhang Kontra Armas-Luthang), PRO-6 has set stemmed the proliferation of loose firearms.
