Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong issued Department Order No. 89 on March 11 creating the task force that will streamline the government’s campaign against terrorism and the commission of crimes involving national security.
DOJ Undersecretary Jose Calida was assigned to supervise the body. The new task force’s chairman is Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuño. Assistant Chief State Prosecutor Severino Gana Jr. serves as task force vice-chairman and its members are 11 state prosecutors.
"This is for better case management," Calida said of the new task force. "We will establish a central base for all the monitored terrorism cases. This will speed up the conviction of terrorists as we conduct the inquest, the preliminary investigation and prosecution of the cases in a more orderly manner."
Calida said the bombings in Mindanao, particularly the Davao International Airport blast last week, will be used as test cases.
Cases involving secession, rebellion and inciting to rebellion that threaten national security will also be handled by the new task force.
According to the order issued by Datumanong, all city and provincial prosecutors and officers-in-charge of prosecution offices nationwide and all regional state prosecutors were also designated members of the task force.