GMA taps AFP vs kidnappings

President Arroyo ordered yesterday the reactivation of the elite Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP)’s Anti-Kidnap Task Force (AKTAF) to help the Philippine National Police (PNP) fight kidnap-for-ransom groups and other organized crime syndicates that she has classified as threats to national security.

The President ordered Defense Secretary Angelo Reyes and AFP chief Gen. Roy Cimatu to redeploy AKTAF in Metro Manila to assist the PNP in its battle against organized crime.

AKTAF was based in Basilan and Sulu, where it participated in the all-out search-and-destroy operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

The Chief Executive also ordered Reyes and Cimatu to transfer the 730th Civilian Security Group of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) from the anti-civil disturbance group, Task Force Libra, to AKTAF.

Task Force Libra, a military composite group, helped the PNP quell the May 1, 2001 siege of Malacañang by supporters of jailed former President Joseph Estrada.

"(The 730th Civilian Security Group), under Lt. Col. (Rolando) Jungco, has performed so well that it was permanently attached to Task Force Libra to beef up security at the seat of government. But since the threats of destabilization have died down and Task Force Libra is mainly to protect the seat of government against destabilization, I think the group should now be attached to AKTAF," the President said.

Both the AKTAF and the 730th Civilian Security Group were ordered by the President to attend the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Illegal Drugs Summit today at the Manila Hotel. The summit is being organized by PNP Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. on her orders.

The President also commended the men and women of the PAF for their bravery and highly skilled professionalism in the conduct of search and destroy operations against the Abu Sayyaf.

"I hope you will also join in the fight against kidnapping and crime because I consider these as serious threats to our national security," the President told PAF personnel during the 55th PAF anniversary celebrations at Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

"We must pursue not just the terrorists and kidnappers, but also the common kidnap-for-ransom gangs," she added, expressing her desire to put an end to kidnapping and the illegal drug trade, which are the country’s top peace and order problems.

"A relentless pursuit of terrorists has won us praise from the international community. But we need more than praise... we need their investments to create jobs for our people. (We need) to earn not praise but their investments," the President added.

At the PAF anniversary program, Mrs. Arroyo pinned Gold Crosses and medals on the men and women pilots of the PAF who saw action against the Abu Sayyaf and provided air support for the rescue of American missionary hostage Gracia Burnham and the other hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf.

The President also conferred posthumous awards and paid tribute to the "sacrifices" made by the men and women pilots of the PAF who died in the line of duty.

Meanwhile, Ebdane said the police will hold no quarter in pursuing scions of influential families, including relatives of politicians, who perpetrate kidnap-for-ransom activities and other crimes.

Ebdane assured the public that the PNP will not entertain influence-peddling in high-profile crimes: "In the treatment of specific cases, especially kidnapping, we do not care who the perpetrators are, more so if they belong to the (PNP) or the military. We do not care whether the perpetrators are children of politicians."

"If they have erred, he said," they must face the music. We have to file the cases and, when warrants are issued, we will arrest them."

He added that the PNP will have only one anti-kidnapping body to replace the defunct National Anti Kidnapping Task Force. The details and setup of the new anti-kidnap unit will be discussed during today’s anti-kidnapping summit. — With Christina Mendez