PNP deadset to break Pentagon’s backbone

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Leandro Mendoza has ordered top commanders of Task Force Mindanao to intensify the campaign to break the backbone of the Pentagon kidnap-for-ransom gang and other criminal elements in the area.

The order was issued in the heels of police operations that led to the recovery of Italian priest Guiseppe Pierantoni. The priest was abandoned by his captors at the border of Zamboanga del Norte and the new province of Subuguey early dawn last Monday when a combined team of police and Army troops closed in on the kidnappers.

Still to be rescued from the bandit group operating in Western and Central Midnanao is Korean hostage Jack Keon Yoon, said Mendoza even as he insisted no ransom was paid for the priest’s freedom.

Mendoza fielded last February his top commanders to take a direct hand in running Task Force Mindanao on orders of President Arroyo to run down the kidnappers.

"Let’s commend, not cast doubt on the officers in the police and the Army for their pivotal roles in the campaign that led to the live recovery of Fr. Pierantoni," Mendoza said.

A complex field investigative and intelligence networking operation leading to the death of 13 gang members and the capture of seven others in several encounters in less than two months, allowed the police to track down the exact movements of gang leaders holding captive the Italian priest. Velasco took command of the PNP’s Special Action Force (SAF) in running down the criminal group.

Mendoza insisted that no ransom was every paid by Task Force Mindanao as it stuck to the government "no ransom" policy. It was learned, however, that private groups made ransom offers similar to the practice during the past administration but failed to get the parish priest released.