PDEA restores deputation of Munti cops

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has restored its deputation to the Station Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group (SAID-SOTG) of the Muntinlupa City police following a three-week suspension.

PDEA Metro Manila regional director Senior Supt. Benjamin Magalong said the suspension of deputation of Muntinlupa SAID-SOTG was lifted following a meeting with City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro.

“The mayor vowed to reconstitute the city police’s SAID-SOTG and revitalize the Muntinlupa Anti-Drug Abuse Council for intensified campaign against illegal drugs,” Magalong said.

The PDEA suspended the deputation of the Muntinlupa police’s anti-narcotics unit through a July 7 order as a result of “violations of prescribed investigative guidelines.”

Magalong also said there were “persistent allegations of involvement of its officers in irregularities,” but refused to elaborate.

He added that the deputation of the Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Group of Manila Police District Central Market-Sta. Cruz Police Station 3 was also suspended last July 17 for violations of guidelines.

The suspension orders, Magalong said, are part of their project “Nicodemus,” a transformation program designed to address corruption issues and also to intensify the anti-illegal drug campaign in Metro Manila.

“Our campaign is crucial since the drug problem in Metro Manila represents 52 percent of the national drug problem,” he said. – Edu Punay