Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil聽 (PNP FB PAGE)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil gave police units until March to eradicate active (PAGs) or be聽 relieved from their posts.聽
The ultimatum came as the PNP reported monitoring and five potential PAGs ahead of the May 2025 midterm elections.
鈥淣agbigay ng ultimatum ang ating Chief PNP na by March ay dapat nalansag na yung identified na tatlong active na private armed groups at itong lima na we are closely monitoring na mga potential private armed groups,鈥� PNP Spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing at Camp Crame on Wednesday.
(The PNP chief issued an ultimatum that by March, the identified three active private armed groups and the five we are closely monitoring that are potential private armed groups must be eradicated.)
When asked what consequences will the concerned police offices face if they fail to eradicate the PAGs in their areas of responsibility, Fajardo replied: 鈥淭his may be a ground for their relief. That is the instruction of the Chief PNP.鈥�
Fajardo is also concurrently the director of Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon).
鈥淎ng fear natin dito ay kung hindi ito malansag, there is a big possibility na magamit ito sa pangha-harass, sa pang-iintimidate not only sa mga kalaban nilang kandidato, pati na rin sa mga boboto,鈥� she said.
(Our fear here is that if they aren鈥檛 dismantled, there is a big possibility that they will be used to harass and intimidate not only rival candidates but also voters.)
鈥淚tong tatlong active PAGs at limang potential PAGs ay identified na sila, so there is no reason for the field commanders, particularly the concerned regions and provinces, para hindi nila ito matrabaho,鈥� the PNP spokesperson added.
(These three active PAGs and five potential PAGs are already identified, so there is no reason for the field commanders, particularly the concerned regions and provinces, for them not to handle the situation.)
According to Fajardo, the active PAGs are located in Central Luzon, Central Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula.
Meanwhile, the potential PAGs are located in the Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Eastern Visayas and the Bangsamoro Administration Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Further, Fajardo said the PNP was deploying additional personnel in the listed areas of concern to bolster security for the midterm elections.
Marbil previously ordered the national police force to intensify efforts against PAGs and loose firearms ahead of the elections.