INATASAN ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ang Department of National Defense (DND) na lansagin ang private armies.
Ito’y kaugnay ng magkakasunod na pananambang sa ilang lokal na opisyal ng pamahalaan kamakailan.
Sinabi ni Defense chief Carlito Galvez sa 11th oversight committee meeting ng National Task Force for the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups sa Cotabato sa Kidapawan City na “more than ever, the fulfillment of our mandate is now made more urgent with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to dismantle private armies and identify hotspots where local officials are being attacked.”
Para naman kay Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos, tagapagsalita ng task force na handa ang gobyerno na tumulong na palayain ang bansa mula sa “long-running gun culture.”
“As we journey towards freeing the Philippines from its long-running gun culture, rest assured that the DILG stands ready to render any necessary assistance for the attainment of our noble objective,” ayon kay Abalos.
“Let us continue working together in tearing down the walls of divisiveness and animosity of partisan politics as we move towards giving our kababayans the peaceful and thriving communities they deserve,” dagdag na wika nito.
Nagbigay ng kautusan ang Pangulo nang magsimula ang high-profile investigation sa pananambang na naging dahilan ng pagkamatay nina Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo at 8 provincial staff at constituents nito.
May 16 katao naman kabilang na ang 3 provincial officials ang nasugatan sa gun attack sa tahanan ng gobernador sa bayan ng Pamplona noong Marso 4, 2023.
Dahil dito, ipinag-utos ng Pangulo ang pagbuo ng joint military at police task force para tugisin ang natitirang suspek sa pagpatay kay Degamo.
Sa ulat, biktima rin ng shooting incident sina Aparri, Cagayan Vice Mayor Rommel Alameda, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr., at Datu Montawal, Maguindanao mayor Ohto Caumbo Montawal. (CHRISTIAN DALE)
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