Steering Committee: composition and control
- A Steering Committee is created to provide policy direction and oversight to PACKTAF.
- The Steering Committee is composed of the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Energy (DOE), and the Department of National Defense (DND).
- The Steering Committee is headed by the DOE Secretary.
Task Force Head and day-to-day operations
- Undersecretary Roy V. Kyamko is designated as the Task Force Head of PACKTAF.
- The Task Force Head is responsible for the day-to-day activities of PACKTAF.
- The Task Force Head monitors daily operations and reports to the Steering Committee.
- The Task Force Head must take appropriate measures and necessary actions to ensure compliance with the law, the Administrative Order, and Steering Committee policies.
Task Force composition and staffing limits
- PACKTAF includes representatives of: DILG, DOTC, DOJ, DOE, DND, and an Accredited Transport Sector.
- The Task Force has a maximum total manpower of forty five (45) personnel, consisting of fourteen (14) Officers and thirty one (31) Non-commissioned officers and civilian employees.
- PACKTAF’s organizational structure and staffing are determined by the Task Force Head subject to the approval of the majority of the Steering Committee.
- Any changes to organizational structure do not take effect unless ratified by a majority of the Steering Committee.
Personnel hiring, transport volunteers, and deputy head
- Accredited transport groups shall name two (2) representatives to join PACKTAF as volunteer consultants.
- Twenty (20) of the personnel shall be hired as contractual employees, with salaries sourced from supplemental funds.
- The remaining twenty five (25) personnel shall be provided by the concerned agencies to fill the manning requirements of the Task Force.
- An active PNP Senior Officer shall be designated as Deputy Head, appointed by the President.
Operations center location
- The operations center of PACKTAF shall be based in the Department of Energy.
Powers and functions: enforcement, coordination, intelligence
- PACKTAF shall direct operations and, upon finding probable cause, effect the immediate arrest and investigation of persons or groups believed involved in mulcting or extortion activities or operating colorum vehicles.
- PACKTAF shall conduct intelligence and counter-intelligence operations to identify suspects or groups involved in kotong and operation of colorum vehicles.
- PACKTAF shall request the DOJ to provide prosecutors or to refer the case or cases at hand, as PACKTAF may deem proper and necessary, to the Department of Justice and other investigative bodies for proper disposition.
- PACKTAF shall monitor and follow up the progress of ongoing investigation and prosecution of cases of which PACKTAF has taken cognizance.
- PACKTAF may call upon the DND, when needed during actual operation, to provide personnel.
- PACKTAF shall require DOTC to provide impounding areas for confiscated vehicles.
- PACKTAF shall develop public awareness and information campaigns with local government units and civic organizations to encourage public participation in the government’s anti-colorum/anti-kotong drive.
- PACKTAF may undertake studies, on its own or in cooperation with the PNP, other government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and transport groups on new measures to prevent and eliminate the operation of colorum public utility vehicles and extortion activities, and relay its findings directly to the President.
- PACKTAF shall proactively and exhaustively conduct daily coordinative efforts nationwide on anti-colorum measures, anti-kotong prevention, apprehension of operators, protectors of illegal colorum vehicle operation, and those who ask for “kotong.”
- PACKTAF shall report directly to the President all investigations and provide top level liaison to transport groups.
- PACKTAF shall perform other powers and functions necessary for the effective discharge of its mandate as may be assigned by the President.
Support duties of government agencies
- All departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and instrumentalities are directed to extend assistance and cooperation to PACKTAF to accomplish its mandate.
Law-enforcement role of PNP preserved
- Nothing in the Administrative Order derogates the PNP’s role as the primary general law enforcement agency pursuant to Republic Act No. 6975 and Republic Act No. 8551.
Budget appropriation and funding source
- PHP 30,000,000 is appropriated as PACKTAF’s initial fund.
- The fund shall be taken from any of the corporations supervised by the Department of Energy (DOE).
Repeal and effectivity
- All issuances, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the Administrative Order are repealed or modified accordingly.
- The Administrative Order takes effect immediately upon approval.
- Adopted on 27 Nov. 2007.
- Signed by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (President) and attested by Eduardo R. Ermita (Executive Secretary).