Pro-Government Militias

Pro-Government Militia Website

4Ks (Philippines)

Basic Group Information

Name assigned by coder: no
PGM ID Number: 572
Country: Philippines
Date formed: Jan. 1, 1984
    Accuracy of date formed: year
Details of Formation: This group was a fanatical religious sect, which was founded in the 1970s by poor immigrant rural settlers. The group was reorganized as Kapunungan sa mga Kabus Kontra sa Komunista (Organization of the Poor Against Communism) with military backing in 1984. It was active in the mid-1980s.
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 4Ks 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? yes
    Former Armed Group? yes
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): military (institution)
    If link to party, name of party: None
Training and Equipment: no information
Shared Information and Joint Operations: no information
Shared Personnel: no information
Type(s) of Material Support: no information
State Sponsor(s): none
Other Connection(s):

Group Characteristics

Membership: religious; village/rural
Primary Membership: religious
Alternative Primary Membership: no information
Location: Northeastern Mindanao (Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Oriental)
Force Strength: [unknown, unknown]
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: There is some confusion for what the 4Ks stand exactly for. Evidence points out that the words the ‘K’-characters stand for might have changed over time.

New Variables from Meta-Analysis

Purpose

Purpose: The 4Ks were co-opted by the military and police in operations against insurgent groups.
Relative Benefit(s) of PGM Use unknown

Treatment of Civilians

Treatment of Civilians: The 4Ks massacred suspected NPA supporters.
Type(s) of Violence against Civilians: killing

Reasons for Membership

PGM Members Coerced? no information
PGM Members Paid? no information
Reasons for Membership:
PGM Members Killed? rarely

PGM Size

Size:

Weapons and Training

Weapons and Training:

Organisation

Organisation: The 4Ks had the backing of the military. Its leader was called Severino Bodiogan.

Reference(s) for Meta-Analysis

Information was taken from news sources listed in the PGMD.

Evidence