July 29, 2000, The Philippine Star, AFP: No abuses from CAFGUs,

July 29, 2000, The Philippine Star, AFP: No abuses from CAFGUs, 

Some 10,000 militiamen to be drafted to help combat the Muslim insurgency in Mindanao would be answerable to the military so as to curb possible abuse, Armed Forces chief Gen. Angelo Reyes said yesterday.

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado, for his part, said in a statement from the US that the militiamen will boost the capability of the military in far-flung areas.

This developed as two opposition congressmen questioned President Estrada's approval of the recruitment and mobilization of the militias under the government's Citizens Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU).

Reyes said the militiamen would be issued serial numbers and covered by military rules.

"They are trained by us and we assume responsibility for their behavior during deployment," Reyes said.

Earlier, he said 7,000 of the militiamen would be deployed in Mindanao where the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has declared a jihad (holy war) against the government following the fall of its main Camp Abubakar in Maguindanao province. The remaining 3,000 will be used to reinforce regular military forces in other areas of the country.

"This will enable us to protect communities from MILF (attacks) and terrorist activities and enable us to ensure that rehabilitation and development efforts will continue unhampered," Reyes added.

Assistant Minority Leader Michael Defensor (LP, Quezon City) and Hernani Braganza (Lakas, Pangasinan) said the President cannot authorize the hiring of additional CAFGU members without an appropriation approved by Congress.

They said the P529-billion budget for this year does not provide for the recruitment of more militiamen. Reyes said the President has given the go-signal and the funding for the mobilization.

In questioning the move, Defensor quoted the Constitution, which provides that "no money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law."

He said another provision prohibits the transfer of appropriations. -- Jess Diaz, Jose Rodel Clapano, Jaime Laude, AFP report