A new anti-crime body made up of 300 agents from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and Philippine National Police (PNP), was formally launched during ceremonies held at Malacanang, the presidential palace, yesterday.

President Gloria Arroyo, who was in Mindanao, southern Philippines, earlier announced the formation of the AFP Anti-Crime Task Force (ACTASF), adding that it will be headed by Col. Mark Anthony Supnet, current intelligence chief of the Southern Command.

The group, composed of 234 soldiers and 27 officers, will directly act on heinous crimes such as kidnapping, drug-trafficking, white slavery, money laundering, and corruption. It will engage in intelligence gathering to fight all forms of criminality in the country. Arroyo signed the memorandum of agreement, which was forged earlier by representatives of various government agencies tasked with fighting crime.

The military can help the police now after the government has declared ceasefires with the 32-year old Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), its military arm, the New People's Army (NPA), and the 22-year-old separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mindanao, said Arroyo. The two groups responded to her peace initiatives.

The assistance of the military in fighting crime is needed because there are very few policemen in the country, said National Security Adviser Roilo Golez. He added that the ratio today is one policeman to 700 people, but the ideal ratio is one policeman to every 500 residents.

"The armed forces can provide support for the dwindling number of policemen nationwide," explai-ned Golez. The new group was meant to replace the Presidential Anti Organised Crime Task Force (PAOCTF) whose members have remained loyal to ousted president Joseph Estrada and former police chief Panfilo Lacson, sources said.

"It's not so big, it's about 300, but composed of well-trained, well-disciplined, specially equipped personnel," said AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Diomedio Villanueva.