[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’BIG CHALLENGE Not enough PDEA agents to run after drug traffickers ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
Friday, October 13, 2017
[/av_textblock]
[av_textblock size=’18’ font_color=” color=”]
ILOILO City – A “big challenge” was how the director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 6 described their being the sole law enforcement body tasked to conduct anti-illegal drug operations.
For one, they do not have enough personnel, according to Director Wardley Getalla.
But he tried to be upbeat.
“Despite our limited number of personnel marami pa tayong magagawa para mabigyan ng magandang laban ang droga,” he said.
Getalla, however, declined to say how many agents his office currently has.
In a memorandum, President Rodrigo Duterte directed the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs and all other agencies or ad hoc antidrug task forces to stop conducting anti-illegal drug operations and leave the job to PDEA.
“We accept the responsibility with open arms,” said Getalla.
The director planned to open provincial PDEA offices and fill these with new recruits.
PDEA’s central office has started the recruitment.
“Sana mabigyan tayo ng new recruits from the PDEA Academy para may sapat tayong tao,” said Getalla.
PDEA Region 6 had long been grappling with logistical challenges. In May last year, then regional director Paul Ledesma said they only had 27 personnel running after drug traffickers in the region’s 3,389 barangays spread in five provinces (Iloilo, Guimaras, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique; Negros Occidental was then still with the Negros Island Region) with a total of 95 municipalities and three cities.
“These personnel are not enough. That is why I am appealing for understanding,” said Ledesma.
Aside from law enforcement activities, PDEA “also has to perform administrative things, including attending court hearings,” he added.
With such manpower shortage, Ledesma had said totally eradicating illegal drugs from the region was a tall order so they must be realistic with their goals.
“The best that we can do is suppress it to a level that it won’t be an everyday concern. That is our goal,” said Ledesma.
Two months after, in July 2016, Ledesma was sacked from PDEA-6.
In its official website, PDEA announced it was “hiring committed and highly qualified professionals who have a deep desire to be front liners in the war against illegal drugs.”
A PDEA Drug Enforcement Officer (DEO) has an entry level position of Intelligence Officer 1 and a permanent item with Salary Grade 11.
PDEA is looking for men and women, aged 21 to 35 years old; at least 5’ (female) and 5’2” (male) in height, holder of a Baccalaureate Degree, Career Service Professional Eligible, Board Passer or qualified by the Civil Service Commission under Special Laws.
There will be a qualifying examination, neuropsychiatric test, medical and dental examination and physical fitness test.
Applicants will also undergo background investigation and panel interview.
Once recruited, one will undergo a six-month comprehensive and regimented Drug Enforcement Officer Basic Course training at the PDEA Academy, Camp General Mariano N. Castañeda, Silang, Cavite.
Just this Aug. 14 when the drug war in Western Visayas was still led by the Police Regional Office 6, PNP Director General Ronald Dela Rosa urged his men to arrest more drug suspects.
“Mababa ang drug personalities n’yo na nag-surrender or nahuli. Dagdagan nyo pa,” he told Region 6 cops in Camp Delgado.
A total of 1,915 drug personalities have been arrested in Western Visayas since July last year after the Philippine National Police launched its Oplan Double Barrel, the Duterte administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
But Dela Rosa was not impressed.
From July 1, 2016 to July 1, 2017, 20,598 drug personalities surrendered to police stations across the region, PRO-6 data showed. The surrenders were a result of 430,424 house visitations that the police conducted in a bid to convince these drug personalities to change their ways.
“Step up. We have a lot to do. Double-time,” said Dela Rosa.
In the 1,354 antidrug operations of the PRO-6 since July last year, 1,915 drug suspects were arrested and of these, 150 were considered high-value targets.
The operations also resulted to the death of 31 drug suspects. These casualties resisted arrested, according to the PRO-6.
Dela Rosa told Western Visayas policemen not to be afraid of drug lords and criminals. He also urged local officials to help the police./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
