Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

Manticao Village Defence Force (Philippines)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 145
Country: Philippines
Date formed: March 17, 1985
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: The group was established in 1985 by a religious Marcos supporter called Butok in cooperation with a retired Philippine Army Colonel.
Date dissolved: July 15, 1987
    Accuracy of date dissolved: day
Details of Termination: Through Executive Order No. 275, President Aquino dissolved all paramilitary units from 15 July 1987 onwards. As there is no (pro-government) evidence for the Manticao Village Defence Force after this order, the PGM is regarded as banned/dissolved.
Termination Type(s): government defects

Former and Successor Group Information

Predecessor group(s): none
Successor group(s): none
Private Military Company? no
Former Group? no
    Former Armed Group? no
Former Rebel Group? no
    Former Rebel Group UCDP ID: none
PGM Becomes Rebel Group? no
    Successor Rebel Group UCDP ID: none

Government Relation, Support, and Training

Government Relation: informal (type 1)
Created by the Government?: no
    Main Creating Government Institution: none
Government Link(s): no information
    If link to party, name of party: None
Training and Equipment: yes
Shared Information and Joint Operations: unclear
Shared Personnel: no information
Type(s) of Material Support: no information
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: religious; village/rural; ex soldiers
Primary Membership: local
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Mindanao
Force Strength: [unknown, 30]
Target(s): rebels, insurgents, or other armed group
Purpose(s): fight insurgents

Ethnic Characteristics

Ethnic Target(s): none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Targeting: not applicable
Ethnic Membership: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Membership: not applicable
Ethnic Purpose: none
    Quality of Information for Ethnic Purpose: not applicable

Other Information

Other Information:

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The group’s purpose was to fight communist rebels.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians:
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: unknown

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership: Members first began to follow Butok, who was known for his teachings and reputed prowess as a healer. With Butok’s support, some followers were then recruited into the Village Defence Force.
PGM Members Killed? no information

PGM Size

Size: Butok had more than 200 adult followers out of which around a sixth were members of the Manticao Village Defence Force.

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training: Members received six days of military instructions. They used American-made weapons of World War II or earlier.

Organisation

Organisation: The force is organised by retired Philippine Army Colonel Disodao Ratunil.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD

Evidence