Senators warned Monday against a possible “serious” peace and order problem and “rampant atrocities and abuse” in the country with the plan of the Philippine National Police to expand the Community Mobilization Project into an Alsa Masa-like network to help combat crimes in the country.
“It could be a very dangerous move especially if it spins out of control,” said Senator Panfilo Lacson, former police chief.
“Going by what transpired in the past—using that same tactic against the insurgents in Davao City and elsewhere in northern Mindanao where the Kuratong Baleleng of Octavio Parojinog was utilized by the AFP [Armed Forces of the Philippines], bordering even on vigilantism,” he said.
“Without a well-planned, and structured exit program, it resulted on their choice of crime as the next career,” he pointed out.
He said if the PNP would adopt the same method without seriously considering the lessons of the past, the country “could face a serious peace and order problem.”
Senator Francis Pangilinan called on the PNP to “seriously reconsider” its plan of reviving Alsa Masa as it might be a “recipe for rampant atrocities and abuse.”
“Alsa Masa in the 1980s became notorious for rampant violations of human rights, widespread atrocities and abuse all in the name of anti-communism and law and order,” he said.
Pangilinan said he was afraid this would give the corrupt and abusive policemen more teeth to rape, to kill and to commit crime against unarmed citizens.