PNP News Releases 2005

P N P News Release No. 04-1003
Authority : P / SR SUPT LEOPOLDO N BATAOIL PNP
Public Information Office, Camp Crame , Quezon City
Telefax: (632) 7255115 Email: information@pnp.gov.ph
Date : Sunday, 03 October 2004

POLICE TASK FORCES ACTIVATED IN VISAYAS AND WESTERN MINDANAO

The Philippine National Police has officially activated two police task forces in the Visayas and Mindanao to oversee the operations of Police Regional Offices in these areas. PNP Chief, Deputy Director General, thru Letter of Instructions 28/04, activated Task Force Western Mindanao and Task Force Visayas.

These task forces, Aglipay said, will exercise operational control and supervision over Police Regional Offices for internal security operations. The PNP Chief said the activation of the task forces also aims to bolster the system of coordination and cooperation between and among PNP Units and their counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in addressing insurgency, criminality, and terrorism.

Aside from “contributing to a better span of control over major operating units of the PNP in these areas”, Aglipay said the creation of the Task Forces for Visayas and Western Mindanao “will also bring the decision-making process closer to the point of action” during actual operations.

PNP Task Force Visayas will be headed PRO-7 Regional Director, Police Director Rolando Garcia in concurrent capacity. Task Force Visayas will have control over PRO-6 in Western Visayas, PRO-7 in Central Visayas, and PRO-8 in Eastern Visayas . Task Force Western Mindanao will be headed by Police Director Vidal Querol, in his concurrent capacity as PRO-9 Regional Director. Also placed under his operational control are PRO-10 in Northern Mindanao , and the Police Regional Office for Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

According to PNP Spokesman, Senior Superintendent Leopoldo N Bataoil, the Task Forces shall establish Area Coordinating Centers (ACC) in coordination with their AFP counterparts in these areas to ensure effective coordination. The Task Forces will supervise police operations against criminal, insurgent and terrorist groups that operate along regional boundaries and may utilize two or more Regional Mobile Groups for these operations.