Roque: Duterte not satisfied with PDEA handling drug war

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte was perhaps not pleased with the accomplishments of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in leading his anti-narcotics campaign, Malacañang said Thursday after the leader revealed he might bring back the police to the frontline of the drug war.

Duterte last October designated the PDEA as “sole agency” in charge of his controversial war on drugs after his satisfaction rating significantly dropped following street protests triggered by the death of minors in the hands of Caloocan City cops.

But on Wednesday, the president said the Philippine National Police has to be involved in the crackdown to prevent the proliferation of methamphetamine or shabu.

“He (Duterte) must not be satisfied. He wants more,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said when asked how he would assess PDEA’s achievements in heading the drug war.

Roque, who had flaunted PDEA’s efforts in his recent press briefings, said there is a “very strong likelihood” that the police will regain control of the war on drugs considering Duterte’s latest pronouncements.

“I think a decision will soon be made...  Effectively, he has manifested already a decision to return it to the PNP,” the Palace spokesman said.

Duterte, who easily won the race to Malacañang last year on a brutal law-and-order platform, has stoked international alarm for activating his fierce anti-drug campaign.

Early this year, Duterte was forced to suspend Oplan Tokhang—a portmanteau of two words meaning to “knock” and “plead”—following the kidnapping and killing of a South Korean businessman by rogue policemen.

At that time, Duterte stripped the PNP of the authority to conduct anti-illegal drug operations and designated the PDEA—backed by the Army—to continue the campaign.

He had also abolished the anti-drug units of the PNP and vowed to cleanse the police force, which he described as “corrupt to the core.”

Citing lack of manpower in the anti-narcotics operations, the firebrand leader later decided to tap the police again in his deadly war against illegal drugs.

READ: Duterte brings back police into war on drugs

Asked why the President is bent on bringing back the police to his brutal drug war despite his previous admission the force was corrupt, Roque said: “I think the President has acknowledged that the PNP is not a perfect organization.”

“But he has also said that, by and large, not everyone in the PNP is corrupt. And therefore, he still believes in the institution.”

READ: Amnesty International: PDEA as lead drug war agency a 'PR' move