Aquino names Ochoa as chief of anti-crime commission

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has named Executive Secretary Pacquito Ochoa Jr. as head of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC). Ochoa will head the PAOCC but will remain as Executive Secretary. According to Executive Order 46, the anti-crime body's tasks include monitoring human trafficking, transnational crimes, drug trafficking, car theft, gunrunning, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and smuggling incidents. Moreover, the PAOCC is tasked to investigate and prosecute heinous crimes, crimes committed by members of military and police personnel and government officials or employees, including those employed by the government owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). The President can also ask the PAOCC to look into other criminal offenses. The EO was signed on June 13 and was published on the Manila Bulletin on Friday. When asked about the EO, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she was not aware of it. Executive Order 46 EO 46 defines organized/syndicated crime group as two or more persons collaborating, confederating or mutually helping one another in the commission of any crime. “A steadfast, strong-minded and unwavering campaign to eradicate organized crime, along with the graft and corruption it breeds are among the priorities of this administration," the President said in the EO. “The reorganization and strengthening of the PAOCC is imperative to substantiate and generate results in the fight to eliminate corrupt practices," he added. The members of the PAOCC are secretaries of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, National Defense, Foreign Affairs, the National Security Adviser, Armed Forces chief of staff, National Police chief, National Intelligence Coordination Agency head, National Bureau of Investigation director, and Philippine Center for Transnational Crime executive director. — LBG/VVP, GMA News