Reyes initiates ‘holistic strategy’ vs traders’ crime woes

Interior and Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes initiated what he described as a "holistic approach" to end the rampant extortion, hijackings, pilferages and other criminal activities which have left businessmen based at the Batangas Bay International Port with some P100 million in losses.

Reyes, concurrent chief of the National Anti-Crime Task Force (NACTAF), is confident that criminal activities in the port area will be stopped with the full cooperation of the businessmen, the police and the community.

"There is complete cooperation among the companies, police, prosecutors and the community," he said.

Reyes ordered that security measures be put in place like the setting up of checkpoints against unauthorized firearms and goons.

Reyes also created a special task force to closely coordinate with the Department of Justice to speed up the cases filed against syndicates involved in extortion, hijacking and other criminal activities in the international port.

Reyes said the task force would help strengthen coordination between the businessmen and law enforcers in fighting these illegal activities.

Reyes has instructed Senior Superintendent Danilo Servando and Superintendent Mario de la Vega to hold regular meetings with the businessmen to better address their problems and improve the business climate and security in the port.

Senior Superintendent Don Montenegro, Cavite police director, earlier filed charges for violation of Republic Act 8479, the law against illegal trading of petroleum products, against a certain Leonilo Bantogon, who has been implicated in pilferages and extortion in the port.

Reyes met with the port businessmen last Friday to discuss their complaints.