Legal basis and related issuances
- Section 1 anchors the drive against professional squatting syndicates on Section 27 of Republic Act No. 7279 (the Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA)).
- Section 1 references Executive Order No. 129 (15 October 1993), which established a national institutional mechanism to curtail professional squatting syndicates and professional squatters and created:
- the National Committee Against Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters, and
- the Local Committee Against Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters.
- Section 1 also cites Executive Order No. 159 (12 October 1999), which declared mass housing as the centerpiece program and directed fasttracked mass housing projects.
- Section 2 expressly requires coordination with the National Committee Against Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters created under Executive Order No. 129.
- Section 2 directs support and assistance to the Local Committee Against Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters created under Executive Order No. 129.
Policy intent against squatting syndicates
- The Executive Order establishes the need to strengthen the capability of local government units to curtail the operations of professional squatters and squatting syndicates.
- The Executive Order mandates intensified enforcement because the proliferation of professional squatters and squatting syndicates in urban centers impairs effective implementation of government mass housing programs.
- The Executive Order orders a nationwide police task force to apprehend and pursue prosecution of professional squatters and squatting syndicates.
Creation of the National Police Task Force
- Section 1 creates the National Police Task Force on Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters, referred to as the “Task Force.”
- Section 1 directs the Task Force to “vigorously pursue the apprehension and prosecution” of professional squatters and squatting syndicates nationwide.
- Section 1 provides that the Task Force is chaired by the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
- Section 1 provides that the Task Force shall be composed of elements of various law enforcement agencies/entities as may be identified by the Task Force Chairman.
Core functions and enforcement duties
- Section 2 requires the Task Force to act in coordination with the National Committee Against Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters.
- The Task Force must initiate identification of professional squatters and squatting syndicates, including the names of public officials and/or private individuals or companies abetting or tolerating the commission of the act (Section 2[a]).
- The Task Force must conduct surveillance to check and verify initial intelligence information on suspected professional squatters and squatting syndicates, including names of public officials and/or private individuals abetting or tolerating the act (Section 2[b]).
- The Task Force must coordinate closely with the Prosecutor’s office and concerned local government units to:
- gather evidence, and
- testify during court proceedings to ensure speedy prosecution of identified professional squatters and squatting syndicates (Section 2[c]).
- The Task Force must provide police protection to victims of squatting syndicates and professional squatters, including the rightful beneficiaries of the government’s housing program, who may have been victimized through:
- collection of exorbitant fees,
- issuance of fake titles, and
- sowing disinformation (Section 2[d]).
- The Task Force must direct local police chiefs, through PNP regional directors, to extend full support and assistance to the Local Committee Against Squatting Syndicates and Professional Squatters created pursuant to Executive Order No. 129, in line with the intensified drive (Section 2[e]).
- The Task Force must submit regular reports on its activities and accomplishments to the President through the Presidential Commission on Mass Housing (PCMH) (Section 2[f]).
- The Task Force must perform other functions as may be directed by the President (Section 2[g]).
Repeal and modifications; conflict rule
- Section 3 mandates that all executive orders, rules, regulations, and other issuances, or parts thereof, inconsistent with Executive Order No. 178 are repealed or modified accordingly.