Ramos orders cult crackdown
PRESIDENT Fidel Ramos has ordered a crackdown on a bizarre pseudo-military cult called the Heavenly World Philippine Government International Police Commission (H-World) and its alleged leader, movie star Royette Padilla.
Padilla is the brother of another movie star, Robin 'Bad Boy' Padilla, who started serving a 16-year to 21-year prison sentence last Friday for the illegal possession of firearms stemming from an unrelated matter.
A policeman and two H-World members - who had apparently just attended a military-style drill parade at a safe house in Quezon City, were killed in a shootout on Saturday outside a Quezon City police station.
The men were wearing H-World uniforms and carrying identity cards claiming they were officially sanctioned vigilantes working in conjunction with the Philippine National Police and its Director-General, Recaredo Sarmiento. These claims have been denied by the police.
The group claims to be similar to the communist Alex Boncayao 'Sparrow' Brigade, which has assassinated 'enemies of the people' such as US servicemen and corrupt policemen.
H-World has said in a manifesto that it is beyond the authority of any government.
According to observers, these remarks are similar to those made by Robin Padilla, who said he was outside the law 'because he had connections with Malacanang Palace'.
Robin Padilla surrendered to police on Friday after eluding arrest for nearly a month.
The fugitive actor was convicted last year and his arrest was ordered after an appeal court upheld his sentence last month.
President Ramos has called for an immediate report on H-World, including an outline of its objectives, infrastructure and leadership.
