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[av_heading heading=’ PDEA promises less bloody war on drugs ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, October 13, 2017
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MANILA – With antidrug agents at the helm, the government’s war on drugs will be “less bloody,” the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
Director General Aaron Aquino told a news conference on Thursday he will not allow PDEA agents to violate the rule of law.
“Our operations will be less bloody,” said Aquino. “In fact, since President Duterte assumed his office on July 1, 2016, there are only 28 deaths in our operations, and I can assure that [these] are legitimate operations.”
Aquino also clarified that while the agency is the only government body authorized to lead antidrug operations, it may seek assistance from any law enforcement agency “due to our limited manpower.”
PDEA agents will not take shortcuts during operations but will also not hesitate to defend themselves if the situation calls for it, according to agency spokesperson Derrick Carreon.
“We will follow the marching orders of the President, who said that the drug problem has to be stopped by all means that the law allows,” Carreon said. “The fight will be relentless, and it will be sustained.”
“But if and when the situation calls for it, our agents, just like our counterparts from the police and other law enforcement agencies, kailangan po naming ipagtanggol ang aming mga sarili, ang aming mga kasamahan, at lalung-lalo na po iyong mga tao na nasa paligid namin habang kami’y nagsasagawa ng operations,” he said.
On Wednesday, Duterte signed a memorandum making the PDEA the “sole agency” authorized to conduct antidrug operations.
The new order will “bring order to the operation/campaign” and “[pinpoint] precise accountability.”/PN
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