MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has decided to abolish a task force whose one of its members was arrested by the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) after allegedly shooting three people including a minor dead in Barangay Batasan Hills.
Belmonte confirmed with The Manila Times that she ordered all the members of Task Force Disiplina (TFD) to immediately return and report to the Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), their mother unit.
She said no operations or patrols are now authorized under the task force which used to be headed by Councilor Rannie Ludovica who also happened to be facing complaints and possible charges after he was issued a show cause order by the Land Transportation Office for driving a motorcycle without helmet, among others.
In order to keep a member from service, the city chief executive said each member must pass a stringent background check, neuropsychological examination, and drug test, and submit NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) and police clearances.
“No one will be exempted from this screening,” she said.
The local government clarified that no firearms are issued to any task force member. Among the city's personnel and force multipliers, only police officers are authorized to carry weapons.
At the same time, the mayor has directed the QCPD to immediately intensify its campaign against illegal firearms.
“The public is encouraged to immediately call Helpline 122 if uniformed Task Force Disiplina personnel are still patrolling their barangay. Any information on civilians carrying or keeping suspected illegal firearms should also be reported,” Belmonte said.
“No life should be lost to the irresponsible use of firearms. The safety of the citizenry is the primary duty of the local government, and there is no place in public service for anyone who cannot abide by this,” she added.
Lawmen collared Alvince Tolentino, 38, during a follow-up operation after allegedly shooting and killing an 18-year-old Grade 12 student, a 19-year-old out-of-school youth and a 16-year-old boy whom the suspect had reportedly accosted for violating the curfew hours.
The.38 revolver-wielding suspect was said to be reeking with liquor and was riding his motorcycle when he spotted the teenagers loitering along Batasan San Mateo Road in the same village around 2a.m., Monday.
