A panel in the House of Representatives has agreed to file a resolution calling for the deactivation of the Special Cafgu (Citizens Armed Forces Georgraphic Unit) Active Auxiliaries in Mindanao, particularly in Zamboanga del Norte and Cotabato, during the election period.
The resolution to be prepared by the House of Representatives’ Committee on National Defense and Security, chaired by Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr., will be consolidated with Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s House Resolution 2188.
The Arroyo resolution disbands or deactivates, or both, all local government-sponsored SCAA formations in Mindanao effective at the start of filing of Certificates of Candidacy until after the lifting of election ban in the 2019 elections and every elections thereafter.
HR 2206, authored by Zamboanga Rep. Seth Frederick, bans the deployment of SCAA personnel in Mindanao during the 2019 elections.
At a congressional hearing, Assistant Secretary for Plans and Programs Angelito de Leon of the Department of National Defense told the panel the SCAA has two classifications: the SCAA 1 funded and controlled by the DND and the Armed Forces and the SCAA 2 sponsored by local government units or a nongovernment entity.
Arroyo’s HR 2188, filed last Sept. 18, provides for the activation of local government militias in Mindanao, is becoming widespread as 2019 elections draw near.
Thus, “it raises an alarming concern given the common knowledge that politicians have the natural tendency to resort to the use of guns, goons and gold in order to get advantage in an electoral contest,” Arroyo said.
“The continuing activation and deployment of all local government-sponsored SCAAs during the period of elections poses more of a threat to the free exercise of democratic process rather than addressing security threat,” added Arroyo.
Jalosjos, for his part, said his resolution is actually focused on the local government-sponsored SCAAs.
Jalosjos said he personally witnessed and has been a victim of SCAA 2 augmentation during elections. He claimed that local officials are utilizing SCAA 2 primarily for their political agenda.
“Allowing the local governments to deploy SCAA during the period of elections will always be used to terrorize the electorate,” he said.
Jalosjos also sees no need for SCAA augmentation or even deployment in the province of Zamboanga del Norte.
“Aside from its low threat situation,” he argued that the SCAA 2 in the province “is not that instrumental in improving the peace and order in their area,” Jalosjos said.
However, Rep. Mohamad Khalid Dimaporo of Lanao del Norte opposed the consolidated resolution, saying it will be detrimental to the security concerns of President Rodrigo Duterte in his province.
“My objection to this resolution is because it may affect our peace and order situation in our area, the Lanao area. Since the 2008 MILF attack, I have been very critical with the number of battalions being deployed to Lanao del Norte. That is also our problem, without the force multipliers, like the CAFGUs and the SCAA, is that the police are not fully equipped,” Dimaporo said.
“What we want in the local government side is to be able to establish peace and order…Especially now, when we’re fighting against terrorism. And this is the number one prerogative of our President to rid Mindanao of its peace and order problems,” Dimaporo added.
Jalosjos as a result asked the DND and the military to assess the situation in provinces in Mindanao so as to determine their need for SCAA 2 and its augmentation.