PNP gets drug lords’ profiles from China

MANILA, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa has been provided by his Chinese counterpart with the profiles of suspected drug lords Peter Lim and Peter Co.

Chinese authorities also provided Dela Rosa with names of Chinese nationals engaged in the illegal drug trade.

“They provided me with the correct profiles of Co and Lim during our dialogue as well as that of known (Chinese) drug lords in the country,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa described the information as “highly valuable,” though he refused to elaborate on the details, citing security issues.

“They are classified matters. We don’t need to discuss this. But on matters of intelligence it is highly valuable for us,” Dela Rosa said.

Dela Rosa gathered the information during a dialogue with his Chinese counterparts at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame.

The meeting stemmed from an order issued by Dela Rosa’s Chinese counterpart during their bilateral meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Dela Rosa attended the 36th Aseanopol (Association of Southeast Asia Police chiefs) conference, a yearly event, where China and police chiefs from other states have been acting as observers.

“We had a bilateral meeting with China in Kuala Lumpur and instructions were given to their people here (in Manila) to proceed to Camp Crame,” Dela Rosa said.

Straight from the airport last Friday, Dela Rosa said he immediately tackled the drug issue with his Chinese visitors.

“Hopefully, our meeting will have good results because they (Chinese) are also concerned over the three to six months deadline given by the President to the PNP to rid the country of the drug menace,” he said.

President Duterte had tagged Lim and Co, along with Herbert Colangco, as the major players in the illegal drug operations in the country.

Co and Colangco are currently incarcerated at the National Bilibid Prisons (NBP) in Muntinlupa where they reportedly continue managing their illegal drug business, while authorities are still searching for the real Peter Lim.

A Cebu-based Peter Lim went to see President Duterte in Davao City recently and denied involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Lim also went to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Bureau of Investigation in the effort to clear his name.

The Chinese government promised to help President Duterte in the campaign to rid the country of illegal drugs in three to six months.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on the government to put behind bars the members of an alleged religious group selling drugs and prostitution at the NBP.

Fr. Jerome Secilliano, CBCP-Public Affairs Committee (PAC) executive secretary, said even those belonging to the religious sector are not above the law and should be made accountable for their illegal actions.

“In the war against drugs, no one should be above the law,” he said.

Secilliano made the statement following revelations of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II that a religious group is selling illegal drugs and prostitution to high profile inmates.

Aguirre claimed the religious group even had a chapel inside the penitentiary, using it as a front to distribute drugs and offer their women.

A pastor was reportedly seen entering the prison complex with four of five women who are allegedly paid P4,000 to P5,000 to have sex with prisoners and prison guards.

The DOJ, however, has yet to confirm this information.

If the reports are true, Secilliano said the government should put a stop to the illegal activities of this religious organization.  

He agreed with Aguirre’s decision not to allow the group to enter the NBP compound since they operate under the guise of proclaiming the faith.

“If there is evidence against any religious group allegedly peddling drugs, the government is duty-bound to arrest, prosecute and put them behind bars. Religious groups are supposed to build and not destroy lives; they are to preach hope and not ruin future; they are expected to help reform prisoners and not condone anomalous lifestyle,” he added. – With Evelyn Macairan