New anti-terror group formed

The government’s Anti-Terrorism Council has created a National Counter Terror Action Group (NACTAG), which will be headed by former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Arturo Lomibao, officials said yesterday.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, who heads the council, said they have approved a resolution to create the NACTAG, which he said is similar to the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), a fictional group featured in the popular television series “24.”

“If you are watching 24, like the CTU of Jack Bauer, that’s a permanent unit under the supervision and control of the National Anti-Terrorism Council, of which I am the head,” Ermita said.

Bauer, played by actor Kiefer Sutherland, is the central character in the television series. Bauer headed the CTU, a United States government group tasked to detect terrorists and go after them as a semi-independent unit.

Lomibao was initially appointed by President Arroyo to head the Land Transportation Office in place of another former PNP official, Reynaldo Berroya.

Ermita said the NACTAG is mandated to develop good intelligence and identify the would-be terrorists, prevent terrorist activities and, should a terrorist attack be successful, investigate and help the prosecutor to ensure the case would stand in court, in accordance with Republic Act 9372 or the Human Security Act.