Pro-Government Militias
Nakasaka (Philippines)
Basic Group Information
| Name assigned by coder: | no |
| PGM ID Number: | 170 |
| Country: | Philippines |
| Date formed: | March 1, 1987 |
| Accuracy of date formed: | month |
| Details of Formation: | The PGM was established in 1987 as community-based force in Mindanao by Jesus Magno (commander of the provincial Police Constabulary) after a nationwide cease-fire with the insurgents ended in February. |
| Date dissolved: | Jan. 1, 1990 |
| Accuracy of date dissolved: | decade |
| Details of Termination: | After the Nakasaka’s opponent, the NPA, was defeated in the region, the PGM ceased to exist. In 2007, one source suggests a possible revival of the group but there is no evidence that it actually happened. |
| Termination Type(s): | PGM 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?: | yes | Main Creating Government Institution: | person/minister |
| Government Link(s): | person/minister; sub-national government |
| If link to party, name of party: | None |
| Training and Equipment: | yes |
| Shared Information and Joint Operations: | yes |
| Shared Personnel: | no |
| Type(s) of Material Support: | domestic government |
| State Sponsor(s): | none |
| Other Connection(s): |
Group Characteristics
| Membership: | village/rural; peasants |
| Primary Membership: | local |
| Alternative Primary Membership: | no information |
| Location: | Davao, Mindanao |
| Force Strength: | [unknown, unknown] |
| Target(s): | civilians; rebels, insurgents, or other armed group |
| Purpose(s): | self-defense and security; 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: | The Nakasaka is also known as United Association/People for Peace. |
New Variables from Meta-Analysis
Purpose
| Purpose: | The Nakasaka’s main purpose was to fight the NPA rebels. It was considered successful and forced the NPA rebels to retreat to other provinces. |
| Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use | unknown |
Treatment of Civilians
| Treatment of Civilians: | The Cebu Movement for the Disbandment of Vigilantes reported in a newspaper article that also mentions the Nakasaka, that vigilantes were responsible for murder, looting, mass evacuations, raping of women and beheading and hacking to pieces the bodies of civilians. |
| Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: | killing; sexual violence |
Reasons for Membership
| PGM Members Coerced? | unclear |
| PGM Members Paid? | no information |
| Reasons for Membership: | Officially membership was voluntary; however, all citizens were expected to join and those declining membership have to defend their decision. |
| PGM Members Killed? | no information |
PGM Size
| Size: |
Weapons and Training
| Weapons and Training: | Officially, Nakasaka were not allowed to bear firearms, and were sometimes called unarmed. They were armed with stones, sticks, sling shots, bows and arrows, knives, fake guns and machetes. Some also carried pistols and homemade pellet guns. Members received regular military training and instruction. |
Organisation
| Organisation: | Nakasaka was supported by the local governor and military commander. President Aquino also declares support for the Nakasaka. |
Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis
Evidence
- Examine the evidence for this coding.