Army chief: militias dismantled by 2016 as AFP shifts to external security

MANILA, Philippines - Army chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista sees the dismantling of all paramilitary forces in the country by 2016 as the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) transitions from internal to external security.

Bautista, in a forum at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City on Wednesday, said they see the dismantling of about 60,000 paramilitary forces within the end of the implementation of the Internal Peace and Security Plan (IPSP) Bayanihan, the AFP's program to "win the peace" through combat and non-combat initiatives.

Paramilitary forces consist of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and the Special Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (SCAA).

Bautista, replying to queries on the alleged human rights violations committed by paramilitary forces, admitted that these auxiliary forces lacked the same kind of discipline as regular military troops. But paramilitary forces were borne out of "exigencies" and budgetary constraints in the organization, he explained.

"In the future, as we downsize the AFP, first to go are the CAFGUs," Bautista said. Speaking to reporters after the forum, Bautista said he sees the dismantling of these forces "as security condition permits" and improves, adding that one premise if if the "CPP-NPA,NDF abandons the armed struggle."

In the forum, Bautista acknowledged that the AFP should focus on external rather than internal defense. The job of internal defense, he said, should be mainly in the hands of local government units and the Philippine National Police.

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Abigail Kwok | InterAksyon.com | May 30, 2012 | Article Link

City, Army ink accord for SCAA renewal

ZAMBOANGA City Mayor Celso Lobregat and the Army's 1st Infantry Division (ID) represented by its commanding general, Brigadier General Ricardo Rainier Cruz III, has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to renew the presence of the Special Citizen Active Auxiliary (SCAA) unit in Zamboanga City.

The signing of the MOA was done during Cruz's courtesy call last week in City Hall and was witnessed by Task Force Zamboanga Chief Colonel Buenaventura Pascual and other Army officers.

Under the agreement, the City Government shall be responsible for the monthly allowance of the SCAA, which must be coursed through the commander of the military unit supervising the deployment of the militia force.

In addition, the City Government shall provide the SCAA with complete uniform and equipment, and shall also be responsible for any claim arising from personal injury, damages or death caused by or to any of the SCAA, when such injury or death is incurred in the course of lawful performance of duty.

The 1st ID, on the other hand, shall provide the City Government with SCAA in order to secure and maintain peace and order in the city against terrorists, insurgents and other lawless elements.

It shall also be responsible for the screening and selection of SCAA members, with the commanding general exercising direct control and supervision over the SCAA assigned in the city in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

In the event of imminent or actual attack on the city by insurgents and lawless elements, the 1st ID shall have the authority to muster the other SCAA units under its operational control to secure the place.

Furthermore, the 1st ID shall also provide the SCAA with firearms and ammunitions during the conduct of the training until its actual deployment.

Nonetheless, due to budgetary constraints of the government, the City Government may, at its own expense, shoulder the necessary expenses for the purchase of ammunitions during the training and actual deployment of the militiamen.

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Bong Garcia | SunStar.Com.Ph | Wednesday, March 7, 2012 | Article Link