Maganto back in harness, to lead Task Force Baron

On orders of President Arroyo, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. has formed a task force to go after fugitive Police Senior Superintendent Rafael Cardeno, the alleged mastermind in the killing of self-styled Young Officers’ Union spokesman Baron Cervantes.

After years in the freezer, Chief Superintendent Romeo Maganto, is now back in harness and will lead the task force.

Earlier, the PNP and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced a P500,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of Cardeno and his cohort, Sonny Camacho.

Camacho, an employee of the Land Transportation Office, has been tagged by the police as the one who asked Cervantes to proceed to a convenience store along the Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Piñas, where he was gunned down a year ago.

Roque Cervantes, father of slain officer, said they were thankful that the President and Ebdane acted on their plea for justice.

"It is a very good development and we hope that the wheel of justice will now start moving," the elder Cervantes said.

Their family lawyer said the creation of the task force was "unprecedented."

"Normally, task forces report directly to the PNP chief, but this one will be reporting directly to the President," said lawyer Leonardo de Vera.

Ebdane said he received word from Mrs. Arroyo last Sunday that she would be tapping Maganto to lead the task force in the manhunt for Cardeno.

"There is no formal order yet but the President advised me," said Ebdane, who celebrated his 54th birthday yesterday.

Maganto’s task force will be coordinating with National Security Council under Secretary Roilo Golez, although the task force members will still be coming from the PNP. – Christina Mendez, Nikko Dizon