Promotion eyed for 125 drugbusters

At least 25 officers and 100 police non-commissioned officers (PNCOs) assigned with the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOTF) have been recommended for promotion for their role in the recent busting of shabu factories in Antipolo City and Pasig City.

The promotion papers of the AID-SOTF officers and PNCOs were forwarded to the office of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for review.

AID-SOTF head Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay recommended the promotions to the next rank of his men to reward them "so they would work harder in the fight against illegal drugs."

"We accomplished so much in a very short period of time, and I believe it is just proper to reward them for their role in busting shabu factories, laboratories and warehouses," Aglipay said in an interview.

Since its inception last July, AID-SOTF had neutralized the operations of six transnational drug syndicates and discovered seven shabu factories and laboratories and six warehouses in Metro Manila and neighboring areas.

A total of P100 billion worth of shabu and raw materials have been confiscated.

Senior Superintendent Nicasio Radovan, AID-SOTF executive director, said those recommended for promotion are members of the command group as well as staff officers, group and ground commanders, supervisors, team leaders and field operatives.

"Those directly involved in the operation to stop the shabu supply in the country got the first crack in promotions," Radovan said.

He explained that those included in Aglipay’s recommendation for promotion are officers and PNCOs who played key roles in the busting of the shabu laboratory in Tanza, Cavite and drug warehouses in Las Piñas City, Parañaque City, Quezon City, and in Pasay City.

Aglipay is hoping the promotions would make his men double their efforts in going after remaining drug syndicates operating in the country.

"My men are conducting surveillance operations on suspected targets at this time and their promotion would send a positive signal for them to work harder," Aglipay said.

After deliberating on the promotion papers, Ebdane would then forward them to Interior Secretary Joey Lina and Malacañang for approval.

"The usual promotion process will be observed," he said.