Former Western Visayas police chief Geary Barias yesterday assumed the position of chief of the Task Force USIG which oversees all police investigative efforts and assists in the prosecution of cases of slain activists, militants, journalists and high-profile government officials.

Barias also holds the positions of chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, commander of the police Anti-Illegal Drugs and Illegal Gambling Special Operation Task Forces.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has congratulated the Task Force USIG for its efforts in unearthing at least 23 cases of murder committed by the New People's Army against its own members. Barias replaces Deputy Director General Avelino Razon who was ordered by PNP chief Oscar Calderon to focus full time on the flagship Integrated Transformation Program of the PNP, especially on the police housing project.

As DIDM director, Barias, former Negros Occidental police director, also exercises functional supervision over the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, PNP Legal Service, both of which are involved in the investigation handled by Task Force USIG.

PNP spokesman Samuel Pagdilao, said in a statement he issued that the designation of Barias as concurrent head of Task Force USIG, is expected to streamline administrative processes in the ad hoc body because most of its operational functions involve case monitoring and liaison with the prosecution services, also functions of the DIDM. More than 2,000 killings from year 2000 up to this time, were linked by the military to the New People's Army, its records show.*GPB

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