‘Expanded’ anti-crime TF eyed

Lawmakers are supporting the creation of an expanded anti-crime task force in light of the increasing number of crimes in the CNMI.

Rep. Glenn L. Maratita (R-Rota), chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Government Operations, said he plans to convene a meeting to specifically start discussions on a possible “expanded” task force against crimes in the CNMI.

“This is a serious matter that we intend to look into,” Maratita said. “I know that we already have a task force [against crime] but we’re looking at an expanded [one].”

Details of the task force will have to be studied, he said, by looking into existing laws and finding available funding.

“We need to find solutions on this very serious issue,” Maratita said, adding that his committee will also work closely with the Department of Public Safety.

There are neighborhood watch initiatives in the CNMI, but although these are effective, there is a need for a more comprehensive approach to address the rising crimes.

The rise in crime is largely attributed to the proliferation of methamphetamine or “ice” in the CNMI.

Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan), an active participant of neighborhood anti-crime initiatives, said he supports the idea of an expanded task force.

He stressed that the community should have more participation and that this is a “wake-up call” for the CNMI. “The community should rise up.”

Propst said he has initiated neighborhood watch initiatives particularly in Dandan and nearby communities. He also plans to invite his colleagues at the Legislature to do the same in their respective precincts.

Rep. Francis Taimanao (Ind-Saipan) also supports the idea of having different agencies working on a specific goal.

The lawmaker said it will be good if different agencies in different fields can pool their resources together to address crime in the CNMI.

DOC, DPS participation

Many have pointed to the proliferation of “ice” as one of the catalysts of the rising criminality, which is why an agency such as the Department of Customs also plays a critical role in anti-crime efforts.

Customs Director Jose Mafnas said he supports an anti-crime task force involving different agencies.

When asked to comment on the recent homicide cases which were only one day apart, Mafnas said “everybody’s shaken by it.”

It has been reported that drugs might have something to do with the recent crimes.

“Drugs just does not fall from the skies, they are coming from the ports,” Mafnas said, adding that he supports an anti-crime task force “100 percent.”

He said he has in fact met with the DPS commissioner. “I’m just hearing that [task force] today, but I already met with the commissioner.”

Crimes against locals

There were heinous crimes in the CNMI before but in most of the cases, the crimes involved foreigners.

What is alarming is that the recent heinous crimes—particularly two cases involving homicides that were only one day apart—were committed against residents of the CNMI.

For Gov. Eloy S. Inos, “one incident is one too many.”

“This is very unfortunate,” Inos said. “I hope the DPS will resolve these issues, although they have limited resources.”

Inos said the dynamics have become different because in recent past, the victims of the crimes were foreigners, but the last two cases involved CNMI residents.

“But we don’t want to see the proliferation of crime, regardless of nationalities,” Inos said.