Army chief Brawner orders dismantling of private armed groups ahead of Eleksyon 2022

Philippine Army chief Lieutenant General Romeo Brawner Jr. has instructed troops to destroy private armed groups who may threaten the peaceful conduct of the May 2022 elections.

Brawner gave the directive during the first Army-wide command conference for 2022 at Headquarters Philippine Army in Fort Bonifacio on Monday.

“In order for us to achieve peaceful and orderly elections, let us look into dismantling private armed groups,” he was quoted as saying in an Army statement.

“Let me remind you of our two solemn duties in the coming elections:  vote and ensure peaceful and orderly elections. We will not tolerate partisan politics and military adventurism,” he said.

Earlier, Brawner directed soldiers to dismantle other peace spoilers that present as security threats to the conduct of elections.

He also warned politicians against paying “permit to campaign fees” to communist rebel group Communist Party of the Philippines - New People's Army (CPP-NPA) during the campaign period.

Brawner added that the Army will work with the Commission on Elections and other concerned agencies for the 2022 elections.

“We will closely partner with the Commission on Elections and other concerned agencies to provide an atmosphere of safety and security so that the people can vote freely, thus upholding the sanctity of the ballot,” he said.

In October last year, the National Task Force on the Disbandment of Private Armed Groups (NTF-DPAGs) said that it was monitoring several politicians who might have private armed groups.

Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao Police Lieutenant General Jose Chiquito Malayo refused to give the number of politicians nor would he identify them.

In June 2019, the Philippine National Police recorded a total of 60 election-related violent incidents connected with the May 2019 midterm polls. — RSJ, GMA News