Retired cop to testify vs Jaylo

Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (AIR-TF) Director Reynaldo Jaylo’s men are now starting to express willingness to testify against their boss.

A retired policeman who had worked under Jaylo has offered to testify on his alleged extortion activities.

Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco said the ex-cop was a disgruntled operative.

However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has yet to officially take him in as a state witness against Jaylo, a former police official himself.

Velasco added that the retired policeman claims to have knowledge on how AIR-TF operatives allegedly arrest large scale illegal recruiters and demand money in exchange for their release.

Jaylo and his men also allegedly protect illegal recruiters for a fee.

Velasco said the testimony of the retired cop will be studied and evaluated. His background will also checked to determine if he can be a state witness.

Under the law, only those tagged as the "least guilty" can turn state witness and admitted under the DOJ’s Witness Protection Program.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has filed illegal detention charges against Jaylo and eight of his men last Friday.

Eight AIR-TF men were arrested by elements of the NBI Special Action Unit (SAU) and Special Task Force (STF) last Nov. 4. They were identified as Antonio Aviermo Jr., Gerardo Quigol, Redante Cortez, Fernando Jardin Jr., Edgar Ignacio, Abelardo de Jesus, Ernesto Nicomedes and Noy Jaylo.

Late last month, NBI Deputy Director for Intelligence Service Edmund Arugay forwarded to the DOJ a report detailing complaints made by relatives of detainees of the task force.

The NBI said the AIR-TF, previously known as the Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force, was a bogus law enforcement agency and had no mandate to make arrests since its authority expired last July 9 and has not been renewed by President Arroyo.

Velasco said complainants came from all walks of life and will most likely file separate charges against Jaylo in their respective Regional Trial Courts (RTCs).