PDEA chief admits receiving death threats

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has admitted receiving death threats amid the government’s intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

“I have so many death threats, sabi nga nila ang agahan ko ay death threats (they said I have death threats for breakfast),” PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said in a speech during the signing of an agreement for scholarship grants between PDEA and Arellano University (AU) on Friday.

Aquino did not reveal details about these threats when asked by The STAR in a text message.

“We are living in a very dangerous situation, especially (we), (who are) in the lead agency in the war on illegal drugs,” he said.

These threats prompted  the PDEA to beef up the security coverage around Aquino and that of his family, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Aquino became the head of the country’s lead government agency against illegal drugs in September 2017, replacing Isidro Lapeña, who is now director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Aquino is known for his no-nonsense approach on illegal drugs and other crimes when he was still a police official. Part of his advocacy when he was Central Luzon police director  was rehabilitating drug suspects who surrendered in the government’s Oplan Tokhang program.

Since 2008, a total of 20 PDEA agents were killed while 23 others were injured.

Aquino lauded the signing of the agreement as it will ensure the welfare of children of their operatives who have been killed or incapacitated in the line of duty.

Under the agreement, the education scholarship grant is available in all of AU’s seven campuses in Metro Manila for school years 2019 to 2023 for students studying in elementary, high school and college.

“Let us always look for the welfare of our people. They are the ones working on the ground,” Aquino said.

To avail itself of the educational benefit, the PDEA must submit the necessary documentary proof that the grantee is indeed the surviving child of agents or personnel killed in action or left totally disabled while in the line of duty.

The grantee, however, must satisfactorily pass the course of instruction based on the approved standards of AU. If the grantee fails to pass a subject, the benefit shall be considered suspended.