Foreign Correspondence

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The Philippines' private armies

We look at how clans use private armies to keep a tight grip on political power.
25 Mar 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1EzVaUJ3-s

For generations, Philippine politics have been dominated by powerful family dynasties using violence and fear to rule.

But after 57 civilians were killed in the election-related Maguindanao massacre in November 2009, the government has been forced to act.

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the president of the Philippines, has launched a special commission to disband the country's 132 private armies.

But the commission has received widespread scepticism. Critics say that to
tackle private armies, the whole structure of Philippine politics has to change.

Meanwhile, around 10,000 men form private armies across the Philippines.

Some are more heavily armed than conventional guerilla armies, and have helped maintain a political system built on clan loyalties and patronage.

With national political leaders relying on them for support and votes, local politicians
have operated with impunity, dealing with rivals through the barrel of a gun rather than an election box.

In this edition of 101 East, we look at how clans use private armies to keep a tight grip on political power in the Philippines.
http://english.aljazeera.net/programmes/101east/2010/03/201032571751873659.html

See also ..

Profile: Andal Ampatuan Jr .. Philippine massacre's main suspect belongs to clan feared by local residents of Maguindanao.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/11/200911261411748918.html

Protest demands Philippines justice .. Journalists and activists call for prosecutions over massacre in the south.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/11/2009113082437740443.html