Legality of Bogo task force probed

CEBU - A fact-finding team is now looking into the legality of the creation of the City of Bogo Anti-Crime Task Force that is allegedly being used as private army.

The fact-finding team was created by the Regional Management and Coordination Committee, an agency composed of representatives from the Department of Interior and Local Government, National Police Commission, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Police Regional Office and Regional Training School-Central Visayas.

Pending investigation, PRO-7 director Senior Superintendent Ronald Roderos ordered the arrest of some CBACTF members who are allegedly carrying unlicensed firearms.

Roderos also ordered a background check on the members of the task force following the concern raised by Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon to the Philippine National Police national headquarters.

Roderos, in a letter dated September 30, 2008, told Salimbangon that the Provincial Board can declare the creation of the task force invalid if it can prove that it was outside the powers of the Bogo City Council.

A petition may also be filed in court to declare as illegal City Ordinance No. 020-2007, the ordinance that created the task force.

Roderos, however, added that individual members of CBACTF who have acted like policemen or usurped the authority of the police will be charged in court for violating the criminal laws.

In his letter dated August 4, 2008, Salimbangon told the PNP chief that “the CBACTF personnel are lording it over the City of Bogo, reigning as fearless army in the city and rendering the PNP leadership in Bogo City powerless and futile.”

Salimbangon alleged that the “private army” has long been with former congressman and now Bogo Mayor Celestino “Junie” Martinez, Jr.

Salimbangon said CBACTF is an illegal organization because it is under the direct control and supervision of the city mayor.

The members of the task force are allegedly the ones responsible for snatching the ballot boxes from the hands of the policemen whom the Commission on Elections ordered to retrieve from Bogo City.

These are also allegedly the same people facing charges for mauling a photographer of Sun.Star Daily even in the presence of PNP personnel during last year’s elections. 

Even before Salimbangon raised his concern, the issue of the creation of the CBACTF was already a hot topic at the Committee on Public Order in the House of Representatives, which prompted Cebu Provincial Police Office director Carmelo Valmoria to seek the opinion of the NAPOLCOM.

Citing the general welfare clause as basis, the Bogo City Council enacted City Ordinance No. 020-2007 last September 5, 2007. Martinez subsequently approved the ordinance on October 3, 2007. — Gregg M. Rubio/JMO (THE FREEMAN)