PDEA TASK FORCE BUSTED

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yesterday announced the
deactivation of Task Force Hunter, allegedly over the appointment of
its chief, Reynaldo Jaylo, as head of the Presidential Anti-Illegal
Recruitment Task Force.

PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido said the task force had been deactivated
since July 30 and its members placed under PDEA's special enforcement
service.

Avenido also warned the public to report agents claiming to be Task
Force Hunter members. He did not explain why the deactivation came
more than a month after Jaylo's appointment.

Before President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo appointed Jaylo, the latter
had a spat with Avenido over the arrest of a suspected drug pusher who
boasted of connections to higher authorities.

Avenido reportedly had the suspect freed and ordered Jaylo to inform
him first of any impending arrest before carrying it out.

Jaylo accused Avenido of coddling pushers while the PDEA chief accused
Jaylo's men of sending him death threats by text.

Avenido's men later denied the quarrel, but Malacanang stepped in to
stop it by appointing Jaylo to his new post.

Jaylo earlier said he would still head Task Force Hunter in a
concurrent capacity. He has so far arrested numerous suspected illegal
recruiters.