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Thursday, October 26, 2017
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MANILA – Antinarcotics agents caught 79 suspects in the first 12 days since President Rodrigo Duterte assigned the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the lead agency in the government’s antidrug campaign.
Twenty-one of those arrested in 210 operations from Oct. 11 to 22 were “high-value targets,” the PDEA said.
They also seized dangerous drugs worth P3,574,385.78, most of which were shabu – 677.72 grams, worth an estimated P3,388,600 – Director-General Aaron Aquino said in a statement.
Seized dried marijuana leaves, a total of 1,857.99 grams, were valued at P185,785.78, Aquino said.
“Though undermanned, underequipped and inadequately funded, the PDEA will deliver tangible results even more than is expected of us,” he said.
Aquino assured that the PDEA’s operations will be less bloody than the police’s and more transparent, allowing “body-worn cameras” on agents and “accompanying media” in their daily operations.
With only 1,038 agents, the PDEA is coordinating with the Interior department and local governments as it continues drug-clearing efforts in barangays.
“The obvious lack of personnel is indeed a point of concern since our presence is only on the regional level and with some skeletal provincial offices,” said Aquino. “But we will closely link up with barangays.”
Earlier Aquino said the PDEA needs highly qualified professionals to fill up 373 vacancies.
PDEA has 2,271 approved regular positions, 1,898 of which were filled up and deployed nationwide.
The list of vacant plantilla positions is published on the agency’s official website.
Interested applicants may address their application to Aaron Aquino, director general, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City. (PNA)
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