QuestionsQuestions (ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 212)
The Order cited (1) Article VII, Section 17 of the Constitution (President’s control of executive departments, bureaus, and offices); (2) Section 31, Chapter 10, Title III, Book III of the Administrative Code of 1987 (continuing authority to organize the Office of the President); and relied on the President’s authority by virtue of constitutional and legal powers.
PACKTAF is created under the Office of the President. It provides daily/regular reporting and liaison directly at the top level to the President, while its oversight is provided through a Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee is composed of the Secretaries of DILG, DOTC, DOJ, DOE, and DND. It is headed by the DOE Secretary.
Undersecretary Roy V. Kyamko is designated as Task Force Head. He is responsible for day-to-day activities, monitoring daily operations, reporting to the Steering Committee, and ensuring compliance with law, the Administrative Order, and Steering Committee policies.
PACKTAF may have a maximum total of 45 personnel: 14 Officers and 31 non-commissioned officers and civilian employees (with the exact organizational structure and staffing subject to Steering Committee approval).
Twenty (20) personnel are hired as contractual employees whose salaries are sourced from supplemental funds, while the remaining twenty-five (25) personnel are provided by the concerned agencies.
Accredited transport groups may name two (2) representatives to join PACKTAF as volunteer consultants.
An active PNP Senior Officer is designated as the Deputy Head. The Deputy Head is appointed by the President.
The operations center is based in the Department of Energy (DOE).
PACKTAF may direct operations and, if there is probable cause, immediately arrest and investigate persons or groups believed involved in mulcting/extortion activities or operating colorum vehicles.
PACKTAF is authorized to conduct intelligence and counter-intelligence operations to identify suspects or groups involved in kotong and the operation of colorum vehicles.
PACKTAF may request the DOJ to provide prosecutors or refer cases to DOJ and other investigative bodies for proper disposition of cases as PACKTAF deems proper and necessary.
PACKTAF must monitor and follow up the progress of ongoing investigations and prosecutions of cases where PACKTAF has taken cognizance.
PACKTAF may call upon DND to provide personnel during actual operations, indicating that PACKTAF can augment manpower when needed for enforcement operations.
PACKTAF may require DOTC to provide impounding areas for confiscated vehicles.
It shall develop public awareness and information campaigns, in partnership with local government units and civic organizations, to encourage public participation in the anti-colorum/anti-kotong drive.
Section 10 clarifies that nothing in the Order derogates PNP’s role as the primary general law enforcement agency under RA 6975 (DILG/PNP-related law) and RA 8551 (PNP reorganization law).
The Order appropriates an initial fund of Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000,000). It is to be taken from any corporations supervised by the Department of Energy (DOE).
It takes effect immediately upon approval. It also provides that all inconsistent issuances, rules, and regulations, or parts thereof, are repealed or modified accordingly.