Palace: Ochoa up to new job

Malacañang on Saturday vouched for Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa’s capability to handle his new job as chair of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that Ochoa would be on familiar ground overseeing anti-organized crime efforts since he already ran the security cluster in the Cabinet.

“(Executive) Secretary Ochoa is already the head of the security cluster, so his tasks at the PAOCC would consist of the same duties, the same subject matter,” Valte said.

“I think President Aquino would not give the job to the Executive Secretary if he wouldn’t be able to handle it. And Executive Secretary Ochoa has a support system with his other functions (in the Office of the President),” Valte said.

“He is able to delegate. He has the support of his undersecretaries in the Office of the President so he can accomplish his duties in addition to his usual tasks,” she added.

Under Executive Order No. 46 signed on June 13 by Mr. Aquino, the PAOCC has the power to conduct intelligence and counter-intelligence operations against government officials and employees who partner with crime syndicates.

The EO provides the commission with the authority to battle drug trafficking, car theft, human trafficking, gunrunning, robbery, kidnap for ransom, smuggling and transnational offenses committed by crime groups.

The other members of the commission are Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario, National Security Adviser Cesar Garcia, Armed Forces chief of staff General Eduardo Oban, Philippine National Police Director General Raul Bacalzo, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency Director General Trifonio Salzar, National Bureau of Investigation Director Magtanggol Gatdula and the executive director of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime.