Matillano wants anti-kidnap task force disbanded

DAVAO CITY — Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matillano, Southern Mindanao police director, called yesterday for the disbandment of a police anti-kidnapping task force created last month to go after the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang in Central Mindanao.

Matillano fears that the so-called "Sanlahi" task force may become another Kuratong Baleleng or Red Scorpion which, he said, both started out as "intelligence projects" used by some Philippine National Police officers but which became "monsters."

He recommended the Sanlahi’s disbandment after Senior Superintendent Willie Dangane, the intelligence and operations officer of the General Santos-based task force, was linked to the recent spate of kidnappings in Southern Mindanao.

Matillano said kidnapping charges will soon be filed against Dangane and another police officer for allegedly giving protection to Pentagon gang members.

Matillano cited the testimonies of some of the 16 arrested suspects in the abduction of Ma. Cecilia Bonifacio and two other women early this month.

The suspects alleged that Dangane not only acted as protector but also reportedly helped in planning out the kidnappings themselves.

Matillano also cited reports that Dangane was involved in the P5-million payoff for the release of Pierre Balenguer, a 50-year-old Canadian national who was kidnapped last Nov. 3 and was said to have been "rescued" 50 days later by the Sanlahi task force.

"Based on what the suspects claimed, the supposed rescue of (Balenguer) was actually a moro-moro because the payoff had been made prior to Dec. 23," he said.

Dangane is reportedly the cousin of Faisal Marohomsar, a former commander of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and one of the three Pentagon leaders, the two others being Tahir Alonto and Tigre Sikire, also both MILF commanders.