Mindanao Task Force launched

DAVAO CITY — The Philippine National Police launched here yesterday the Mindanao Task Force as part of its beefed-up campaign against kidnap-for-ransom groups operating in Mindanao, particularly the Pentagon gang.

This, as ranking PNP officials from all over Mindanao gathered here for an anti-crime summit where the creation of the task force and its implementing mechanisms were discussed.

Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante, PNP deputy chief for operations, was designated as task force commander. Director Reynaldo Velasco and Chief Superintendent Damming Unga were named deputy chief and executive officer, respectively.

Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matillano, Southern Mindanao police director, said the move to place all police anti-kidnapping groups in Mindanao under one task force was aimed at unifying the PNP’s anti-kidnapping campaign.

The creation of the Mindanao Task Force, in effect, deactivated Task Force Sanlahi-Pentagon. Its counterpart in Luzon and the Visayas is Task Force Dragon.

The new task force will be headquartered at Camp Lira in General Santos City.