Pubdate: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 Source: People's Journal (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 People's Journal Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381 PDEA BROUHAHA: AVENIDO DEFANGS JAYLO PEOPLE'S Journal sources said persistent reports about the alleged involvement of former Manila police Capt. Reynaldo Jaylo and his men in extortion activities, where the victims were mostly Filipino-Chinese drug suspects in Metro Manila, prompted Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chairman Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. to issue a memorandum virtually clipping the powers of Jaylo's Task Force Hunter. PDEA officials said they have documented scores of complaints ranging from robbery-extortion to serious illegal detention against members of the task force headed by Jaylo. Similar reports have also been forwarded to the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force and the National Capital Region Police Office. Most of the cases involved non-organic PDEA personnel in Jaylo's task force. Jaylo, a tough police officer who once led a special task force of the National Bureau of Investigation which was headed then by Alfredo Lim, has denied all the accusations against him and his men, branding these as harassment. Jaylo headed the Western Police District's anti-narcotics and homicide divisions in the late 90s until he was transferred to the NBI. He was thrust into controversy when he and his men shot dead two ranking police officials allegedly involved in drug trafficking in Magallanes, Makati City. PJ was able to get a copy of the memorandum issued by Avenido ordering Jaylo to stop using non-organic PDEA personnel in anti-drug operations. "You are hereby reminded that non-PDEA personnel shall not participate in any anti-drug operations except as informant. You may, however, seek the assistance of other law enforcement units in your operation," the memo dated May 4, 2004 said. Avenido further told Jaylo in his memo "that the SEU 'H' Special Enforcement Service under your leadership has been responsible for a number of successful operations to date. However, there have been also several complaints received by the PDEA National Office against personnel allegedly belonging to your unit." He cited an incident in which "the PDEA was placed in a very bad light when one Jonathan Pascual y Navarette was arrested in possession of a PDEA jacket and Task Force Hunter ID by PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force on March 23, 2004." "These unfortunate incidents and reports negate the milestone achieved by the government in the campaign against drug abuse and trafficking and threaten to further erode public confidence in law enforcement," Avenido said. He also ordered Jaylo last May 24 to immediately limit his "task force's anti-drug operations only in pursuit of approved PDEA Case Operations Plans and upon specific clearance from the PDEA national headquarters for other cases/operations on case-to-case basis." Jaylo, meanwhile, claimed Avenido's memorandum was meant to clip his task force's activities following their arrest of Wilson Gan, a Filipino-Chinese, for drug trafficking in Valenzuela. He accused Avenido and one of his deputies, PDEA Assistant Secretary Rodolfo N. Caisip, of protecting Gan, an allegation which Avenido and Caisip denied. The rift between Avenido, et al and Jaylo further widened when the former started receiving death threats over the phone. Avenido said unidentified callers who introduced themselves as "Egay" and "Tikboy" threatened to kill him. One of the calls was received at Avenido's office in Quezon City last week and the other in the office of his brother, Chief Supt. Adolfo S. Avenido, the director of the PNP Health Service in Camp Crame. Jaylo, however, said he met with Avenido last Friday and assured the PDEA director that none of his agents was involved in any plot against him although he admitted that he indeed has two agents named "Egay" and "Tikboy." Jaylo later called a press conference to denounce Avenido. "I expect this thing to come to a head. But virtually rendering me useless and then accusing my men of plotting to assassinate the very boss we are working with, is an obvious move with glaring malice," he griped. Jaylo wondered why Avenido was worried about death threats that were obviously the work of a prankster or somebody wanting to drive a wedge between them. "All of us, especially those in the anti-narcotics units have been receiving death threats almost on a daily basis. I would say that Avenido is a veteran in the field and as such, should be able to distinguish between what is a real and an empty death threat," he said. Jaylo's Task Force Hunter is occupying a small office at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila, far away from the prying eyes of PDEA officers and men who are stationed at the PDEA national headquarters in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth