GMA to Ebdane: Disband NAKTAF

Showing him who’s the boss, President Arroyo lightly rebuked newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday for defying her order to dismantle the National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force (NAKTAF).

"I have to be authoritative and see to it that my orders are followed," the President said.

Mrs. Arroyo, in a telephone conversation with Ebdane, stressed that her order for the abolition of the NAKTAF stays.

The President , however, said Ebdane can form another task force.

"Form your own task force instead," she told Ebdane.

The President impressed upon the PNP chief that his announcement on Friday that he was retaining the NAKTAF could be interpreted as a defiance of her order issued during the PNP turnover of command at Camp Crame the day before.

Ebdane took over the PNP post from Director General Leandro Mendoza, who was appointed transportation and communications secretary.

Mrs. Arroyo also ordered the abolition of the National Anti-Crime Commission (NACC) headed by Justice Secretary Hernando Perez.

During a luncheon she hosted for The STAR editors at Malacañang yesterday, the President said reiterated her thrust to focus government efforts on the restoration of peace and order in the country.

Mrs. Arroyo said a stable peace and order situation would attract more business and generate the much-needed investments that will in turn create more jobs and income for the people.

She also expressed belief Ebdane would still enjoy the support of the Filipino-Chinese community despite the dismantling of the NACC, whose officials included some influential members of the ethnic group.

At the same time, Mrs. Arroyo ruled out any conflict of interest between Ebdane and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, whose help she tapped for the government’s anti-crime campaign.

The President named Duterte as head of a special task force envisioned to spearhead an effective campaign against organized crime, specially drug trafficking and kidnapping for ransom.

"I want Rudy Duterte to define his own functions. So I told him to work out with Executive Secretary (Alberto) Romulo how he can (apply) his experience in the peace and order campaign in Davao," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Duterte was featured recently by TIME magazine as a pistol-packing local government official who goes around his city on a Harley Davidson bike as he directly helps the local police enforce the law.

Meanwhile, a source at Camp Crame said Ebdane was having difficulty filling up sensitive positions in the PNP hierarchy due to pressures from certain influential people.

Those to be filled up were the seats vacated by the recent relief of seven ranking PNP officials, including Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay.

The source said Ebdane could not finalize the shortlist of nominees due to the lobbying by certain quarters.

The dismantling of the NACC and the NAKTAF also left some police officials and men on floating status as Ebdane has yet to look for new positions for them. — With Jaime Laude