Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 295)
The PAOCC is created under the Office of the President of the Philippines.
The Commission is composed of: The President (Chairman), The National Security Adviser (Vice-Chairman), Secretaries of Justice, Interior and Local Government, National Defense, Chief of Staff of Armed Forces of the Philippines, Director-General of the Philippine National Police, and four representatives from the private sector appointed by the President.
The PAOCC prepares and implements anti-crime agendas, conducts intelligence operations, directs arrest and prosecution of criminal syndicates and corrupt officials, refers cases to the Department of Justice, recruits personnel for Task Forces, enlists assistance from government agencies, grants rewards to informants, coordinates with the Witness Protection Program, and may access government documents and recruit civilians for intelligence.
Crimes committed by organized/syndicated crime groups such as gunrunning, illegal logging, kidnapping for ransom, drug trafficking, falsification of documents, heinous crimes under RA 7659, crimes by PNP and AFP members, crimes by government officials/employees, and other offenses as determined by the President.
Task Forces are composed of selected PNP/AFP members and representatives from other government agencies. The Head of these Task Forces is appointed or designated by the President.
The Task Force Chief reports directly to the President and has immediate supervision over all units of the Task Forces. Component units attached from other agencies are under the operational authority of the Task Forces.
The PAOCC can select and recruit personnel from within the PNP, AFP, and other law enforcement agencies, subject to the agency's conformity, and may also recruit civilian personnel for intelligence gathering.
The budget is incorporated in the budget proposal of the Office of the President, and the Chairman of the Commission determines the allocation among Task Forces and involved agencies.
Close coordination and cooperation are mandated between the Task Force Chiefs, the PNP Chief, and other law enforcement heads to ensure synergy in the anti-crime campaign, including vertical and lateral coordination consistent with security needs.