More ‘victims’ of Jaylo’s task force troop to NBI

The National Bureau of Investigation said yesterday that more people have started coming forward to report the alleged extortion activities of the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (AIR-TF) under former police captain Reynaldo Jaylo.

Acting NBI spokesman Ricardo Diaz said as more complainants surface, they will look into the possible involvement of other AIR-TF personnel involved in making illegal or false arrests.

Since presenting 11 arrested members of AIR-TF the other day, the NBI has talked to complainants, who trooped to the bureau’s Intelligence Special Operations Division (ISOD).

Diaz, who is the regional director of the NBI’s Interpol Division, encouraged other complainants to come forward.

"We will need their statements to establish that the suspects had been really performing police functions, which they do not have authority to do so," Diaz said.

He pointed out that since the entrapment operation last Oct. 12 that led to the capture of the 11 suspects, some AIR-TF men have begun covering their tracks by destroying possible evidence that could be used against them.

"They are either hiding or disposing various papers, including arrest and booking sheets," Diaz said.

The NBI filed qualified bribery charges against the suspects as well as usurpation of authority and illegal possession of firearms last Oct. 13.

Usurpation of authority charges were also filed against Jaylo the other day after he was named as an "additional respondent" in the case filed at the office of Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno.

The NBI-ISOD said the charges were based on Jaylo’s lack of authority to designate intelligence officers as members of the task force.

Meanwhile, Jaylo said he temporarily shut down the operations of AIR-TF after 11 of his operatives were accused of extortion, which had led to doubts on the group’s authority to make apprehensions.

Jaylo said there would be no operations against illegal recruiters while they clarify the extent of the task force’s mandate.

"We have to stop operations for a while. We cannot make any arrest until we clear this," he said.

He expressed concern over the countless number of victims of illegal recruitment who continue to go to their office at the Rizal Sports Complex seeking assistance.

"I hope the victims will understand that there are those who do not want to help them," he said.