In the Philippines, civilian vigilante groups, known as Civilian Volunteer Organisations (CVOs), are being used as private armies by local politicians and powerful traditional leaders in Maguindanao province. These groups were created as unarmed civilian self-help groups in response to the growing insurgency problem in the countryside during the early 1980s. However, in certain parts of the Philippines, local politicians are reportedly heavily arming and using members of CVOs, including child and youth members, in violation of national law.

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