TASK Force Kasanag founding chairman John Chiong said that private armies still exist in Negros Occidental especially in the northern part of the province.
Chiong said over the weekend, it is one of the concerns he personally took up with Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald de la Rosa during their meeting n Iloilo last week.
“I have personally witnessed the presence of private armies or armed civilians when I visited a hinterland in northern Negros. They are maintained by some politicians and sugar planters,” he said.
Chiong added that he brought up this concern with De la Rosa because he is worried that private armies are used to threatening civilians especially the poor citizens in the hinterlands.
“They are used especially in areas having land conflict. They must be stopped,” he said.
Chiong refused to reveal the names of those who are allegedly maintaining private armies.
He said that De la Rosa has promised to address the situation and that the local police are expected to submit a report on the matter.
