1 month ago
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CEBU CITY — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to dismantle all private armed groups (PAGs) and uphold professionalism as the 2025 national and local elections approach.
During his command visit to the Police Regional Office – Central Visayas (PRO-7) headquarters on Wednesday, Remulla stressed that political candidates must not maintain PAGs because these groups are being used for intimidation and for personal interests.
He reminded police officers to remain neutral and not serve as private security forces for politicians.
Remulla said he is visiting different regions before elections as has been his standard practice to assess security conditions and address potential threats to both candidates and voters.
He assured the public that the DILG would closely monitor police operations nationwide to enforce these directives.
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Additionally, PNP spokesman BGen. Jean Fajardo reported that authorities have been monitoring Central Visayas for active PAGs.
The PNP has been ordered to dismantle these groups to ensure a peaceful and orderly electoral process.
Remulla emphasized that law enforcement must focus on two key directives: eliminating private armed groups and ensuring neutrality among police officers.
During his visit, Remulla inspected the loose firearms and explosives that PRO-7 had confiscated.
According to police data, from Oct. 1, 2024 to Feb. 3 this year, authorities recovered, confiscated, or received the voluntary surrender of 1,461 firearms and 25 explosives.
Police operations such as checkpoints, buy-busts, and the execution of arrest warrants led to the confiscation of 1,340 firearms, while a total of 121 pieces of firearms were voluntarily surrendered by their owners.
PRO-7 spokesman Col. Arvie Aserre Paraon-Bueno underscored the impact of these confiscations on maintaining peace and order, stating that every firearm taken off the streets could potentially save multiple lives.
Paraon-Bueno urged firearm owners with expired licenses to renew them as part of the PNP's ongoing "Oplan Katok" campaign.
She encouraged the public to cooperate with authorities and refrain from violating the election gun ban.
With the approaching election season, law enforcement continues to intensify efforts to ensure a secure and orderly process, reinforcing the importance of professionalism and political neutrality among officers.
