LINGAYEN – After learning of complaints of extortion by members of the Task Force Against Illegal Gambling, Philippine National Police Chief Director General Arturo Lomibao “deactivated” the group effective March 16.

Lomibao, who was here for the 2nd Gov. Victor Agbayani Cup last Thursday, however, denied the deactivation, was prompted merely by the complaints against the task force.

Lomibao said a task force has a limited period of existence and transferred the functions of the task force to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

“I believe that the task force has served its purpose so I am now transferring the mandate to the CIDG,” he said.

The task force was created at the height of the series of senate investigations on jueteng. Lomibao said the standard operating procedure is inthe event that there are reports of suspicion that the local police are involved directly or indirectly (in the operations of illegal gambling), then there is a necessity for the task force to coordinate with the local police authority.

Chief Superintendent Alfredo de Vera, Ilocos regional director of the PNP, said “there were many allegations on the alleged extortion of some members of the Anti-Illegal Gambling Task Force”.

In San Manuel, Pangasinan, two businessmen had filed recently an extortion case against some members of the task force at the regional trial court in Urdaneta City.–Eva

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