Only 1 private army group remains in Central Luzon – PNP

Guns and bombs the military recovered after a clash in a village of Shariff Saydona Mustapha town in Maguindanao. (Contributed photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Only one private armed group (PAG) remains in Central Luzon ahead of the 2025 national and local elections, according to Police Regional Office 3 (PRO3).

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously told the Central Luzon regional police to crack down on PAGs because of the polls next May.

READ: Central Luzon cops told to dismantle private armed groups for 2025 polls

“Ngayon, may natitira na lang tayong isang private armed group na yun ang ating tinututukan. In the coming days, hopefully ay ma-neutralize na,” said PRO3 Director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan.

(Now, we only have one private armed group remaining, and we’re focusing on it. In the coming days, hopefully, it will be neutralized.)

He gave the information to reporters in an interview at Camp Crame on Tuesday.

“Nakatuon ang pansin natin doon sa ating pagtalima sa mandato ng ating SILG na buwagin lahat ng mga criminal gangs at private armed groups,” Maranan noted.

(We are also complying with the mandate of our [Secretary of the Interior and Local Government] to dismantle all criminal gangs and private armed groups.)

“Sa katunayan, sa Region 3, nitong last quarter ng 2024 ay nakabuwag tayo ng limang criminal gang,” he added.

(In fact, in Region 3, this last quarter of 2024, we dismantled five criminal gangs.)

Maranan said PRO3 was particularly focused on Nueva Ecija, deploying 200 additional personnel to secure the province.

Furthermore, according to the Central Luzon top cop, the regional police recommended 12 municipalities in Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Bulacan, and Pampanga to be declared areas of concern by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The PRO3 director did not provide a breakdown of the places endorsed to be tagged under this label.

“Alam naman natin na ang Central Luzon ay talagang may mga intense political rivalry. May mga violent incident rin na nangyari sa mga nakaraang eleksyon. Kaya ngayon, yung mga lugar na yun ay ating tinututukan,” Maranan explained.

(We know that Central Luzon has intense political rivalries. There have been violent incidents that have happened in the past elections. That’s why now, we’re focusing on those places.)

“Kasama din sa mga ni-recommend natin for further monitoring ay dinadagdagan natin yung mga resources natin na nandoon, kasama na yung pagdadagdag ng mga pulis at yung ating mga logistical resources,” he continued.

(For the areas we recommended for further monitoring, we’ve added the resources that are there, including personnel and our logistical resources.)

PRO3 confiscated 1,346 guns through checkpoint operations and served 266 search warrants from October to December 2024 as part of its efforts against loose firearms leading up to the election.

READ: PNP to crack down on private armies, loose firearms for 2025 polls

He also reported that the regional police already reassigned cops who are relatives of candidates, although he did not specify how many law enforcers were transferred to other posts.

READ: PNP reassigns 1,308 cops with relatives running in 2025 elections

“Tayo sa PRO3 ay naglagay ng 24/7 checkpoints. Comelec checkpoints ay naplano na natin kung saan natin sila ilalagay,” Maranan said.

(We at PRO3 have placed 24/7 checkpoints. We’ve planned where to set up the Comelec checkpoints.)

The election period begins on Sunday, January 12.