PNP to form new anti-crime body

President Arroyo is set to create a new anti-crime unit within the Philippine National Police (PNP) to replace the disbanded Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

Renato Corona, Mrs. Arroyo’s chief of staff, told reporters yesterday the executive order establishing the special police unit will be ready "any time" for the President’s signature.

"Whether it would be signed by the President today or tomorrow, I’m not sure," he said. "(The EO) will be submitted to the President but nobody knows when it’s going to be signed. Hopefully, we will have it by today."

Corona said Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Avelino Cruz was "putting the final touches" to the EO in coordination with PNP chief Director General Leandro Mendoza and PAOCTF commander Director Hermogenes Ebdane.

The new anti-crime unit will be "under Mendoza’s direct chain of command," but Ebdane will be in charge of its overall operations, he added.

But Senate President Aquilino Pimentel Jr. told reporters he is against the creation of another special police unit to replace the PAOCTF.

"If the PAOCTF is to be abolished, it should remain entombed and not be replaced by a new one," he said.

Pimentel said "it’s about time" the PAOCTF is disbanded following the implication of its officers and men in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking and wiretapping.

"Once PAOCTF is abolished, its funds and equipment should be reallocated to different police stations all over the country," he said. "Many police units have been complaining of lack of equipment."

On the other hand, Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. described as "a mere changing of names" the PAOCTF’s replacement with another special police unit.

"Police Director Hermogenes Ebdane must ensure that the persons to comprise the task force are trustworthy, credible and without any trace of irregularity," he said.

Magsaysay said he is concerned about news reports that 100 PAOCTF men would be absorbed in the new anti-crime unit because the PAOCTF has been implicated in a number of crimes.

Meanwhile Joey Rufino, Lakas-NUCD-UMDP executive director, said in a statement firearms and surveillance equipment acquired by the unit might disappear after the PAOCTF is disbanded.

"These devices and weapons were procured using government funds, so it must be returned to the government," he said. "The Commission on Audit should conduct a thorough audit of the PAOCTF to determine how its budget was spent."

Rufino said Lakas has urged Mendoza to order an immediate inventory of all firearms and monitoring equipment that were acquired when Panfilo Lacson was PNP chief.

Rufino said they have received reports that sophisticated assault weapons from the PAOCTF armory are being used to arm renegade policemen.

Surveillance equipment are being used to bug telephones and track down the movements of administration officials and pro-government businessmen, he added.

The PAOCTF was created by ousted President Joseph Estrada through an executive order upon his assumption in 1998 and named Lacson to head it.

Lacson said the alleged criminal activities involving PAOCTF officers and men are "nothing but a product of the evil minds" of criminals within the police and military establishments.

On the other hand, Senior Superintendent Michael Ray Aquino said in an official statement yesterday "top NBI and PNP officials" are trying to link him to the Dacer-Corbito murder case.

Aquino said friends have warned him that "senior police officials, including those we have jailed and charged in court" are out to "liquidate" him and Lacson.

Aquino said "unscrupulous PNP officials" have gone to the extent of "coaching witnesses" to identify him as the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Dacer and Corbito.

A "group of intelligence and psywar operators based in Camp Crame" are behind the "demolition job and black propaganda" against him to get at Lacson, he added. – With reports from Efren Danao, Mayen Jaymalin, Sandy Araneta