This file handout photo from Special Joint Task Force Negros show firearms and ammunition that police reportedly found at a sugar mill owned by former Negros Oriental Gov. Pryde Henry Teves in March 2023. 

MANILA — The government is working to dismantle at least 23 private armies ahead of the 2025 midterm elections, Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Wednesday, noting that most of these groups are in Mindanao.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been “speaking personally” to the military and the police since last year to ensure that the Philippines would see a “very peaceful and honest elections this coming May 2025,” Galvez said during the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” news forum.

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“Ang concentration natin is more on BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) areas,” he said.

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“Sa Abra at sa ibang areas relatively peaceful considering strong yung ating governance system doon,” he said.

The government has so far dismantled 16 private armies and recovered 100 firearms under the Marcos Jr. administration, and authorities are confident that it can increase this number in the coming months, the head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said.

“Makakaya po namin kasi ang implementing arm po namin is yung Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Philippine National Police (PNP),” Galvez said.

“We are very ready.”

The 1987 Constitution directs the government to dismantle "private armies and other armed groups not recognized by duly constituted authority."

STUDY ON PRIVATE ARMIES AND PEACE

The OPAPRU and other agencies are undertaking a comprehensive study to monitor how the existence of private armies is correlated to the “peace, development and economic index” of an area, Galvez said.

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Most of the violence being monitored in some provinces are “more on lateral, more on land conflict,” he said.

“Ang nakita namin ditong number one is land possession, land reform kaya I’m very happy Secretary [Conrado III] Estrella is pushing for the enactment of the new agrarian reform law,” he said.

While the Interior and Defense departments are helping the Commission on Elections to have more politicians sign peace covenants ahead of the 2025 midterm elections, the government is also crafting ways to settle ridos or clan wars in Mindanao, Galvez said.

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“Sa rido, mayroon tayong mechanism na ginagawa doon… na concept of rido settlement,” he said.

“Marami doon ay competition to resource, tribal conflict at political conflict na nakikita,” he added.

Elections in the Philippines have been marred by violence — especially in rural areas — as some candidates employ private armies to either neutralize their political opponents or intimidate voters.

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Lawmakers and local politicians will troop to Commission on Elections (Comelec) offices in October to file their certificates of candidacies for the 2025 midterm elections.

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