Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 295)
The Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) is a commission created to investigate and prosecute criminal elements, particularly organized and syndicated crime groups, and it is placed under the Office of the President.
The PAOCC is composed of the President as Chairman; the National Security Adviser as Vice-Chairman; the Secretaries of Justice, Interior and Local Government, and National Defense as members; the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; the Director-General of the Philippine National Police; and four representatives from the private sector appointed by the President.
PAOCC prepares and implements fast-track anti-crime and anti-corruption measures; conducts intelligence and counter-intelligence operations; directs arrests and prosecutions of crime syndicates and corrupt officials; refers cases to the Department of Justice or other agencies; follows up investigations and prosecutions; recommends legislation; recruits personnel for task forces; grants rewards to informants; coordinates witness protection; and may access government documents and facilities.
PAOCC covers crimes committed by organized or syndicated crime groups such as gunrunning, illegal logging, kidnapping for ransom, white slavery, illegal recruitment, drug trafficking, smuggling, piracy, falsification of government documents, large-scale swindling, counterfeiting, and bank fraud, as well as heinous crimes under RA 7659, crimes by members of the PNP or AFP, offenses by government officials, and other crimes as designated by the President.
An organized/syndicated crime group is defined as a group of two or more persons collaborating, confederating, or mutually helping one another in the commission of any crime, often with protection from government or public service individuals.
Task Forces or Special Project Groups are composed of selected members from the PNP and AFP and representatives from other government agencies. The head of each Task Force is appointed or designated by the President.
The Task Force Chief reports directly to the President and has immediate supervision and control over all units and personnel within the Task Forces, including assigning duties and functions.
Funding for the Commission and its Task Forces is included in the budget proposal of the Office of the President. The Chairman of the Commission determines the budgetary allocation to the Task Forces and involved law enforcement agencies.
The Task Forces can enlist the assistance of any government department, bureau, agency, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and local governments, for support in the anti-crime campaign. These agencies may assign personnel, facilities, and resources for crime prevention, detection, investigation, and prosecution.
The Executive Order mandates close coordination and cooperation between the Chiefs of the Task Forces, the Chief of the PNP, and other law enforcement agency heads to ensure synergy in the anti-crime campaign, with both vertical and lateral coordination among units to avoid compromising police operations.