|
Task Force 211 Scores Accomplishments
“In scarcely five months, Task Force 211 or the Task
Force Against Political Violence has scored considerable
accomplishments, which brings hope that the problems of
extra legal killings and unresolved political violence
cases in the Philippines will one day be curtailed.”
These were the hopeful words of Justice Undersecretary
Ricardo R. Blancaflor, who is concurrently Chairman of
Task Force 211.
A look at Task Force 211’s scorecard reveals that the
Task Force has already successfully worked on
thirty-four (34) extra legal killings cases and has been
diligently monitoring more than 200 other cases of ELK
and political violence since its inception on November
26, 2007.
It was TF 211 that located the whereabouts of the
elusive PFC Roderick dela Cruz, the accused in the
killing of peasant Ricardo Ramos of the famous Hacienda
Luisita case. The AFP turned the accused over to the NBI
for his eventual surrender to the court hearing his
case.
The Task Force, in collaboration with the PNP, also
caused the surrender of Mayor Alfredo Arsenio of Aklan
after intensified efforts to arrest the latter. Mayor
Arsenio was suspect in the murder of Herson Hinolan, a
local radio broadcaster who was known to have been vocal
in his criticisms against the Mayor. Mayor Arsenio was a
fugitive from justice for over two years.
Other accomplishments of the Task Force include the
arrest of Nanding Bitinol, suspect in the killing of
Enrico Cabanit, and the filing and reactivation of extra
legal killings cases in court. Two cases previously
dismissed for lack of evidence or witnesses were
re-filed in Court. One “cold case” (case previously
without any evidence or witness) was revived and filed
with the Prosecutor’s Office. Three cases were
adjudicated by Courts. One case previously under police
investigation is now filed with the Prosecutor’s Office
for preliminary investigation. And finally, ten cases
pending at Prosecutor’s level were finally filed for
prosecution at Court level, including that of
17-year-old victim Reagan Ibabao, a minor who was killed
while in detention at a police precinct. In this
particular case, the mother of the deceased expressed
appreciation for the Task Force as she never expected
government to take her side against the suspected
policemen because she was simply a washerwoman.
“Task Force 211 utilizes a whole-government,
whole-society approach in dealing with the problem of
extra legal killings”, Blancaflor emphasized. He further
said that the Task Force is guided by the principles of
transparency, focus and responsibility. “I am inviting
everyone to check out our website
www.taskforce211.com.ph and support the Task Force. We
can only truly succeed if we can get everyone’s
cooperation and support”, Blancaflor added.
Task Force 211 mobilizes various government agencies,
political groups, sectoral organizations, religious and
civil society, and the general public to pursue its
goals of prevention, investigation, prosecution and
punishment of extra legal killings and political
violence cases in the Philippines.
|
