Republic of the Philippines

PROVINCE OF XXX
XXX City

Office of the Sangguniang

Panlalawigan
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

COMMITTEE REPORT

SUBJECT:

Letter dated October 1, 2020 of the Chief of Staff of the Governor, requesting for a
Resolution granting authority to the Governor to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement
(MOA) for and in behalf of the Provincial Government of XXX with the 5 th Infantry
(STAR) Division, Philippine Army (5ID, PA) relative to the activation of CAFGU Active
Auxiliary Company II (CAAC-II) and the deployment of its eighty-eight (88) members

FINDINGS/COMMENTS:

Known as members of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), these militiamen will
be assigned in selected

Known as members of Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU), these militiamen will
be assigned in selected

They will serve as our territorial defense protection like in Samar province where many rebels
and their supporters had already surrendered to the government. We want the communities to put
up their own defense system,” he added.

Earlier, the military requested the province to finance the CAFGU training and provide
allowances to them.

Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan said the presence of militiamen will help to attain the
goal of having a peaceful province, as additional to the military and policemen.

Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU)

The Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units are paramilitary units composed largely of
volunteer [ie, paid, but not drafted] reservists organized into companies of 88 personnel that are
handled by a squad of regular troops responsible for providing guidance and control. As of 2007
the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGUs) were estimated to number between
40,000 and 82,000.

CAFGUs are the ones giving information to their cadres since they have access to the different
areas, have complete knowledge of the terrain, and they are the direct contacts in the community.
CAFGUs have the advantage in protecting their villages from outside threats as they are more
familiar with their own communities.
 Republic of the Philippines
PROVINCE OF XXX
XXX City

Office of the Sangguniang

Panlalawigan
Members undergo a basic 30-day training program that focuses on firearms and small-unit
tactics; receive free health care, an initial clothing allowance, and a small stipend of 2,700 pesos
per month; are armed with M16s, M14s, and carbines; remain subject to military law and
regulations; and must wear uniforms.

In the course of 1986/87 some 200 armed private bands collectively called "vigilantes" emerged
in the Philippines, ostensibly organized against a rising tide of communist guerrilla insurgency.
The vigilantes appearance, encouraged by local military commanders, should be seen against the
long history of Philippine "private armies". The vigilanles' rise came after the formal dissolution
of such paramilitary groups as the Civilian Home Defence Forces (CHDF), which led to a further
complication of the constitutional-legal foundation of all para-military organizations in the
Philippines.

In a controversial move, President Aquino [1986-1992] sought the institutionalization of right-

wing vigilante groups by supporting the establishment of the 80,000-strong para-military
organization called Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (CAFGU). President Aquino
created the Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units (CAFGU) on 25 July 1987 as a part of a
wide-reaching plan to integrate all auxiliary forces into a Civilian Armed Forces (CAF). The
revival of the CAFGU was justified as an emergency measure of protecting people from violence
committed by criminal elements.

There are two types of CAFGUs: the CAFGU Active Auxiliaries (CAA), which are organized
under the direct supervision of the army and receives living allowances from the AFP; and the
Special CAFGU Active Auxiliaries (SCAA), which receive living allowances from companies or
LGUs that employ them to secure areas or business establishments. Special Civilian Armed
Forces Geographical Units (SCAAs), funded by private business and Local Government Units
(LGUs) and under the operational control of the AFP, were authorized by a 1989 Directive of
Chief of Staff General Renato de Villa.

Critics suggested that CAFGU uncannily resembles Marcos' notorious Civilian Home Defense
Forces (CHDFs). It will be recalled that the CHDF was repeatedly cited by or ganizations like
Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists for grave human rights
violations and other crimes in the name of anti-communism during the martial law period. In the
end, the CHDF was essentially converted into the new Civilian Armed Forces Geographical
Units (CAFGUs).

Subsequently, sensing a diminishing threat, the AFP began to gradually reduce its own numbers.
Figures obtained by Newsbreak show that the reduction of regular troops was minimal, but the
number of Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Units (Cafgus) in the late 1990s fell from over
40,000 in 1998 to just below 34,000 in 1999. The CAFGU reduction gave the rebels an
opportunity to regroup. The military uses regular troops to clear an area, but once it is cleared, it
becomes the job of the Cafgus, who are residents, to keep it free from rebel influence. The
reduction proved premature. The rebels were able to retake many areas.
 Republic of the Philippines
PROVINCE OF XXX
XXX City

Office of the Sangguniang

Panlalawigan
While the motive of government might be laudable, the Commission on Human Rights [a
Philippine government agency] manifested grave concern on the possible dangers of violation of
human rights of innocent people.

In astatement on 23 March 2000, it noted "It has been a sad experience in the past that the
CAFGUs have committed abuses on innocent civilians resulting in the violation of human rights.
Armed as they were, some CAFGU elements have abused their authority. Some were even
identified and mobilized as paramilitary members of groups such as Alsa Masa and Pulahans.
Unless they are properly trained as required for the military and the regular police force and are
subject to disciplinary sanctions, the armed CAFGUs might violate human rights of persons. It is
to be recalled that active auxiliary units purportedly screened by local executives have formed
part of the CAFGUs."

RECOMMENDATION:

FOREGOING CONSIDERED, this Committee hereby recommends the approval of the

municipal ordinance entitled “AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE AMULUNG
MUNICIPAL SCHOLARSHIP AND EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”, subject to the
recommendation as stated in this Report.

xxxxxx
Chairperson

xxxxx
Vice Chairperson

xxxx xxxxxx
Member Member

xxxxx
Member
 Republic of the Philippines
PROVINCE OF XXX
XXX City

Office of the Sangguniang

Panlalawigan