Court orders arrest of Jaylo

A Manila court issued an arrest warrant yesterday against retired police captain Reynaldo Jaylo, who had served as chief of the defunct Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force (PAIRTF), based on illegal detention cases filed against him and members of his team by the Department of Justice.

Judge Nina Antonio-Valenzuela, of Branch 28 of the Manila City Regional Trial Court, issued the warrant on the grounds that Jaylo allegedly detained six persons illegally for a period of three months.

No bail was recommended.

"You are hereby commanded to arrest Reynaldo H. Jaylo, who is said to be found at PAIRTF, second floor of the PNB Building, Rizal Memorial Complex, Adriatico Ermita, Manila, who stands charged before me for the crime of serious illegal detention (six counts) and to bring him forthwith before me to be dealt with according to law," Valenzuela said.

Copies of the warrant were disseminated to the Manila Police District (MPD), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Philippine National Police (CIDG-PNP) "with the request that the service be made within 10 days from receipt of this warrant."

MPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong ordered yesterday warrant section head Chief Inspector Virgilio Dacara to find and arrest Jaylo.

Jaylo, as a police captain, once served the Manila police in various capacities, including chief of the homicide section and the anti-illegal drugs unit.

Charged along with Jaylo were several members of the task force, namely: Ernesto Nicomedes, Edgardo Ignacio, Elias Jaylo, Fernando Jardin Jr., Gerardo Quisol, Rodante Cortez, Abelardo de Jesus, and Antonio Aliermo Jr.

Velasco said Jaylo should turn himself to the authorities if only to show that he is a true public servant.

"We expect Jaylo to respect the rule of law and surrender," he said "He is facing non-bailable offenses and will be taken to Manila City jail once he is caught by authorities."

In the information filed before the court, it was alleged that from the period of Aug. 30 to Nov. 4 of 2005, the respondents deprived their detainees, all suspected illegal recruiters, their liberty.

The NBI later "rescued" Rosario San Pedro, Leonida Digman, Andrea Bugarin, Praxedes Labile, Roque Biejo Jr., Edemer Aurelio, Sarahn Gerolin, and Lloyd Abella, who were allegedly detained in "sub-human conditions" at the PAIR-TF office.

Agents had acted on the order issued by Senior State Prosecutor Emmanuel Velasco.

He said the operations of PAIRTF has become "bogus" on July 9, 2005 when President Arroyo no longer renewed Executive Order 325, or the law that created the unit.

Jaylo’s team went on to conduct operations as the Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force under the Department of Labor and Employment-Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (DOLE-POEA).

But even the POEA admitted that Jaylo’s group did not possess police powers.

The POEA on Sept. 29 issued a certification to the NBI, clarifying that Jaylo was assigned to their welfare and employment branch and that it did not employ any police operatives.

POEA Administrator Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz also ordered Jaylo on Oct. 11 to hold office at the POEA building and not at the old PAIRTF office. He was asked to report to POEA Deputy Administrator Viveca Catalig. – With Jose Rodel Clapano, Nestor Etolle