"Effects of Warlordism and the Existence of Private Armies on National Security"
POSTED BY: RULino
DATE POSTED: 2010-01-06
“The government, which was designed for the people, has got into the hands of the bosses and their employers, the special interests. An invisible empire has been set up above the forms of democracy. “ Woodrow Wilson (1856 – 1924)
The Crisis Management Institute (CMI) will hold its first Crisis Management Forum for 2010 on the Effects of Warlordism and Private Armies on National Security to be held on 27 January 2010 (Wednesday), 1:30-4:30 PM at the NDCP Honor Hall, Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. Distinguished Speakers include: BGen Jaime Echevarria AFP (Ret), President of the Association of Generals and Flag Officers and member of the Commision to Address Private Armies in the Philippines; Gen Victor S Ibrado, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; PDGen Jesus A Versoza, Chief, Philippine National Police; and Usec Melchor P Rosales, Undersecretary for Peace and Transnational Crimes, Department of Interior and Local Government. The Forum will be participated by over 60 participants to include representatives from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Academe, League of Municipalities, League of Cities, League of Provinces, and journalists among others.
Background
The massacre of 57 people in Maguindanao on 23 November 2009 left the country, and the world, in shock that such a gruesome and unworldly act was committed. It was named the worst single case election-related violence in Philippine history and the single deadliest event for journalists in history wherein 31 journalists were killed. The victims were members of a convoy which was about to file the certificate of candidacy for Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu to challenge Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr. in the forthcoming 2010 Maguindanao gubernatorial election. The 57 victims include Mangudadatu's wife, his two sisters, journalists, lawyers, aides, and motorists who were witnesses and/or were mistakenly identified as part of the convoy.
Aim
Triggered by this inhumane incident, the Crisis Management Institute of the National Defense College of the Philippines (CMI-NDCP) will organize a Crisis Management Forum which aims to explain the concept and history of warlordism in the Philippines, including its effects to the rule of law. It will also look into the government's response when there is a crisis or conflict involving a warlord or a powerful political clan having control over a certain area, using the case of the Maguindanao Massacre. Lastly, it will look into possible solutions to the problem of the existence of warlords in the country.
Established on 12 August 1963, the NDCP is the government's key education institution for training and research on defense and security. Through the Crisis Management Institute (CMI), the NDCP undertakes education through various fora and conferences, training workshops focusing crisis management, The CMI is one of the three institutes under the Department of Research and Special Studies (DRSS).
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