Zeñarosa report: Jalosjos clan has a private army

A panel tasked to disband politicians’ armed groups on Tuesday revealed that the Jalosjos clan in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte is actually maintaining its own private armed group. A confidential report by the Independent Commission Against Private Armies (ICAP), also known as the Zeñarosa Commission, identified the Task Force Lupad as the private army of the Jalosjos clan. The report said Task Force Lupad was created in August 2004 by Dapitan Mayor Dominador Jalosjos Jr. to supposedly act as an anti-drug police auxiliary unit. The mayor is the brother of former congressman Romeo Jalosjos, who was convicted of raping a minor in 1997. But the ICAP reported that the task force is composed of not less than 50 civilian members who are job order employees of the local government unit of Dapitan City, some of whom reportedly even have criminal records. It said that the task force "acts" as the private army of the Jalosjos clan while its members allegedly terrorize the family's political opponents in Dapitan, in Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, and in Zamboanga Sibugay. It added that Task Force Lupad's members carry around M16 rifles and various short firearms. "Task Force Lupad members not only undermine the authority of the police force but also act like them," said the report. The ICAP likewise mentioned several crimes that may be attributed to the task force, specifically extrajudicial killings and other acts of violence in the province. "Unfortunately, the criminals still roam the city with impunity because the families of the victims chose to suffer in silence out of fear coupled with the fact that some suspects openly serve as private bodyguards of the mayor," it said. The report said that Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial chief Superintendent Cristeto Gonzalodo acts as the "personal henchman" of former congressman Jalosjos and even accompanies him in his political activities. The ICAP said in the report that several complainants have asked them to issue an order directing the proper law enforcement agencies to dismantle or neutralize Task Force Lupad. It added that the complainants also wish to recommend the immediate relief of Gonzalodo. Aside from Dominador and Romeo, the report listed six more members of the "expanding" Jalosjos dynasty in Zamboanga del Norte. Included in them are : Cely Jalosjos Carreon (1st district Rep.); Cesar Jalosjos (3rd district Rep.); Bullet Jalosjos (provincial board member running for congress); Romeo Jalosjos, Jr. (Tampilisan mayor running for congress); Rommel Jalosjos (candidate for governor); and Lana Jalosjos (candidate for Sapang Dalaga mayor). Earlier, the ICAP had also asked the Commission on Elections to allow the reshuffling of police officers suspected of partisanship to ensure a clean and honest elections. (See: Comelec asked to allow reshuffling of ‘partisan’ police chiefs) President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo formed the ICAP last December 8 through Administrative Order 275 after public outrage over the massacre of at least 57 people in the southern province of Maguindanao on November 23. The commission is headed by Justice Minina Arevalo-Zeñarosa. —JV, GMANews.TV