Reyes: Recall police bodyguards of crime suspect

All fired up to rid Batangas of big-time crime syndicates, Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes, who heads the National Anti-Crime Task Force (NACTAF), ordered yesterday the recall of two policemen who, for unknown reasons, were assigned as bodyguards to a resident charged with illegal trade of petroleum products.

Reyes also ordered Chief Superintendent Arturo Cacdac, head of the PNP Firearms and Explosive Division (FED), to speed up the cancellation of the gun licenses for M-14 and M-16 assault rifles and a caliber .45 pistol issued to Lino Bantugon.

In a second NACTAF coordinating conference held at Camp Crame yesterday, majority of local and foreign businessmen based in the fast-growing Batangas Bay area implicated Bantugon in illegal activities, which they claimed have hampered their business operations.

During his visit to Batangas last week, Reyes ordered the setting up of police checkpoints, one of which was put up directly in front of Bantugon’s residence.

During the meeting, officials of the Batangas Industrial Security Alliance (BISA) reiterated their complaint to Reyes that the business climate in Batangas has turned from friendly to hostile.

"Syndicated groups with illicit intentions are slowly taking control of the ancillary businesses spurned by the presence of domestic and multinational companies around Batangas Bay," the group said.

Last year alone, companies based in the Batangas Bay area and engaged in the power sector, petro and oleo-chemicals, food manufacturing, shipbuilding, bulk and warehouse terminals, among others, lost about P100 million to syndicates behind massive extortion, pilferages and hijackings.

"This is my directive and I want this immediately done," Reyes told Senior Superintendent Don Montenegro, Batangas police director, regarding his order recalling the two police bodyguards whom the Police Security Protection Office (PSPO) has assigned to Bantugon.

For unknown reasons, Bantugon was able to obtain approval from the PSPO for police bodyguards.

Camp Crame insiders alleged that Bantugon has strong connections not only in the police and the military, but in the government as well.

Last Jan. 7, two days after Reyes made NACTAF’s presence felt in Batangas, heavily armed personnel of the National Capital Region Command were said to have gone to Bantugon’s residence in Batangas.

But Reyes is apparently unfazed by this, as he directed Montenegro to immediately coordinate with the PSPO to pull out Bantugon’s police bodyguards.

Reyes also expressed surprise as to how Bantugon, a civilian, was able to acquire high-powered firearms and have them licensed by the FED.

"I want these licenses revoked and these firearms (M-14, M-16 and caliber .45 pistol) seized," he told Montenegro.

Montenegro informed Reyes and the Batangas businessmen that the police have already filed charges against Bantugon for the illegal trade of petroleum products. The case is undergoing preliminary investigation in the Department of Justice.

Given assurances that their business interests would be amply protected, the Batangas businessmen promised Reyes of their full support.

"It is about time for us to stand up against these syndicates," Helen Oseas, general manager of Coco Chem, urged her fellow business executives.

Lawyer Ronaldo Geron, Batangas provincial administrator, assured Reyes and the businessmen that the provincial government supports NACTAF’s efforts in cleansing the province of "business irritants."

Geron said NACTAF’s campaign against syndicated crime groups in the province is also one of the primary concerns of the provincial leadership.

According to Geron, the provincial government is holding a summit next month of key business players in the Batangas Bay area and those operating in industrial parks across the province.

Geron said the provincial government is also allocating P7 million to assist the anti-crime drive of the provincial police.

The NACTAF campaign in Batangas came as an offshoot of the recent hijacking of a FEDEX vehicle carrying P30 million worth of microchips.