Cvo’s and Pax’s

Lately, there were a couple of developments in the Philippines that have brought to the fore an very crucial issue pertinent to peace and security in our country.  First, in the the so-called Maguindanao massacre on 23 November 2009 were involved members of the Civilian Volunteer Organization (CVO).   Then, an armed group of their kind kidnapped 75 people in Agusan del Sur on 10 December 2009.  

Historically, the CVO is traceable to the Civilian Guards who in the 1960’s and 1970’s were notorious for their human rights abuses and for acting as private armies of wealthy landlords.  The Civilian Guards were composed principally of US Armed Forces in the Far East guerillas and private guards of landholding families, and were under the command of military commanders who provided them with guns to fight the Huks.  President Ferdinand Marcos transformed the Civilian Guards into the Barangay Self-Defense Unit in 1969, and into the Integrated Civilian Home Defense Force in 1972.  The CHDF, which was responsible for many atrocities during the martial law years, was finally abolished in 1986 after Marcos was ousted from power.  Unfortunately, however, as they lost their official status, the CHDF disbanded only to regroup into units of vigilantes such as the right-wing group Alsa Masa (literally, “Rise Up, Masses”), Nakasaka (an acronym for Nagkahiusa Alang sa Kalinaw, or “United People for Peace”) and the religious cult Tadtad (literally, [to] chop).

In 1987, despite the banning of paramilitary forces by the 1987 Constitution, President Corazon Aquino issued Executive Order No. 262 and created the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) as part of her war policy against the CPP-NPA-NDF.  The Aquino government then was claiming that the CAFGU was indispensable in helping the military fight against the communist insurgents.  CAFGU, right from its inception, integrated former members of the disbanded CHDF.  As history would show, the CAFGU’s in general terms were no different from their predecessors.  They were nothing but just “a new collar on the same dog.”

Because of the serious allegations against CAFGU members’ human rights abuses, the Philippine government was prompted to deactivate the CAFGU in 1993.  However, the government halted its plan to completely disband the paramilitary group on the pretext that the activities of dissidents and terrorist groups had renewed.  And, as such, CAFGU’s are perceived as “force multipliers.”

Beginning August 2008, the Philippine National Police turned a blind eye on and refused to learn from the policy failure of the military by recruiting, training and arming police auxiliaries or PAX’s and CVO’s.  They are not regular policemen, but were given law enforcement functions – thus, blurring the line between their and police officers’ duties and obligations.

We may ask: on which basis are the police and military institutions basing their training and deputizing CVO’s and PAX’s?  On 14 July 2006, President Arroyo signed Executive Order No. 546, which directed the police to undertake active support to the military in internal security operations.  In line with this, the police were given authority to deputize barangay tanod (village watchmen) as force multipliers in the implementation of peace and order plan.  Further, the order required all local government units to ensure that there is sufficient fund for operation and logistical support to the law enforcement units.  Interestingly, EO 546 does not clearly state that the PNP has authority to arm civilians!  But, EO 546 is based on EO 264.

Indeed, failed government policies are costly…