PAOCTF office ransacked; abolition gains ground

The proposed abolition of the controversial Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) gained more support after it was learned that the task force’s offices were virtually ransacked by still unidentified persons.

Police officials said an inspection of the PAOCTF offices revealed that intelligence information contained in computer databases were deleted while sophisticated surveillance equipment were missing.

The officials, who requested anonymity, suspect that the PAOCTF was being used for allegedly illegal surveillance operations and to harass those who did not support former PAOCTF director and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Panfilo Lacson.

This developed as new PAOCTF head Director Hermogenes Ebdane designated Superintendent Alan Purisima as chief of PAOCTF for Luzon vice Senior Superintendent Cesar Mancao.

Ebdane also sacked Senior Superintendent Benjamin Magalong from his posts as chief of the PAOCTF’s Light Reaction Group and the PNP Special Action Force’s chief of directorial staff.

Also expected to be booted out of the PAOCTF is Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino, whom disgruntled PNP personnel blame for the unceremonious dismissal of many police officers during the time of Lacson.

Purisima, former head of Task Force Spider, refused to confirm or deny if Aquino would soon be sacked but he did confirm that a major revamp at the PAOCTF is in the offing.

"At this time, we are still in the stage of organizing matters and the accounting of all personnel," said Purisima, who is currently auditing all PAOCTF personnel and equipment.

The emerging PAOCTF revamp came as acting PNP chief Deputy Director Leandro Mendoza stressed anew that he would likely recommend to President Arroyo the abolition of the PAOCTF and the National Drug Enforcement Board (NDEB).

"If I can have my way, I want a united PNP," Mendoza stressed anew as PNP officials hasten to get even with known Lacson boys, especially Aquino.

But Bohol Rep. Ernesto Herrera has cautioned the Arroyo administration against abolishing the PAOCTF, adding that it still had its "merits."

"Having a super law enforcement agency that would sustain the war against well-entrenched crime syndicates still has merit," Herrera said.

"We understand that some quarters are pushing for the PAOCTF’s abolition because of its tarnished image under Lacson," added Herrera, former chairman of a Senate special committee on illegal drugs.

"However, critics should distinguish between the PAOCTF as an institution and the PAOCTF under Lacson, which drew controversy for the alleged involvement of some units in illicit activities," he said.

PAOCTF units under Lacson have been linked to illegal wiretapping, kidnapping for ransom and summary execution of legitimate Chinese businessmen using anti-narcotics operations as cover, drug trafficking and other criminal activities.